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Goethe’s Faust 


PART ONE 


TRANSLATED BY 



ANNA SWANWICK 


WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 


EDWARD BROOKS, JR. 



1022 Market Street 

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Copyright, 1898, by David McKay. 

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INTRODUCTION 


Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born at Frank- 
fort-on -the- Main August 28, 1749. His father, a privy- 
councillor of that city and a man of considerable wealth, 
was a strict disciplinarian, and most punctilious about the 
early training of children. His mother could lay claim 
to better parentage than his father, she being descended 
from a long line of mayors and judges. There was one 
other child, a daughter Cornelia, who was about a year 
younger than her brother. These two children were brought 
up with a strictness which would astonish both children 
and parents of the present day ; and until her death, at 
the age of twenty- seven, Cornelia is said to have been 
Wolfgang’s most intimate friend. 

At the age of fifteen Goethe had his first love affair. 
This fact would not be of great importance except for the 
bearing it may have had upon his life-work. There are 
few if any men of a like genius whose literary productions 
have owed so much to the inspiration of the tender pas- 
sion, and it is interesting to note the time at which it is 
supposed the author first felt its influence. The object 
of his early affection was Gretchen, the daughter of an 
innkeeper at Offenbach, who was probably somewhat 
older than himself, and who treated his passion some- 
what in the same manner that Miss Chaworth treated the 

(v) 


vi 


INTRODUCTION. 


young and ardent Byron. The young lover was not 
seriously affected by this treatment, as we are led to believe 
from his letters that he soon formed another attachment 
for a friend of his sister, a Chari tas Meixner, the daughter 
of a rich merchant of Worms. 

At the age of sixteen Goethe was sent to Leipsic to 
pursue the study of law and to perfect himself for practice 
as a barrister at Frankfort. He spent three years in 
Leipsic, during which time he did little except to fall in 
love with Kitty Schonkopf, the daughter of a wine-seller, 
at whose inn he and his friend Schlosser were accustomed 
to dine. He also made the acquaintance of Oeser, from 
whom he took lessons in drawing, and who is said to have 
exerted a great influence upon the poet’s life. 

Returning to Frankfort on his nineteenth birthday on 
account of an illness brought on by a hemorrhage, he 
made an enforced stay of a year and a half in his native 
town. In 1770 Goethe went to Strasburg to complete his 
legal education, but was much diverted from his studies 
by his contact with a number of medical students, whose 
work he found much more to his taste. He studied 
anatomy and chemistry, and applied himself with much 
assiduity to the study of alchemy. He went on picnics, 
wrote poetry, took dancing-lessons and learned the violon- 
cello. The most important event, however, of his life 
at Strasburg was his acquaintance with Herder, who, five 
years his senior, tutor of a young German prince, was 
then spending the winter in Strasburg on account of an 
affliction of the eyes. In his company Goethe spent a 
portion of every day, sometimes the whole day, and from 
him he learned the teachings of Ossian, the idyllic sim- 


INTRODUCTION. 


vii 


plicity of the Vicar of Wakefield, and the power of the 
great Shakspere. 

It must not be supposed that Goethe’s stay at Strasburg 
was without its love affair. At Sensenheim, a small 
village twenty miles from Leipsic, he found in the 
family of the village pastor his realization of the Vicar 
of Wakefield, and in the youngest daughter, Frederika, 
an object for his passionate nature. The young people 
were a great deal in each other’s society, much to the 
detriment of the legal studies of the young man, who it 
is said would allow neither storm, cold or darkness to pre- 
vent his riding over to spend a few hours in the company 
of his ladylove. A sincere attachment sprang up between 
the two young people which might have had a happy 
termination had not both felt this to be impossible, owing 
probably to a difference of social standing. Thej^ parted 
with many tears, Goethe to return to Frankfort to practice 
his profession, and Frederika to make her life beautiful 
by many acts of charity. She never married, saying that 
the heart that Goethe loved should never love another. 

On his return to Frankfort Goethe was admitted to the 
bar, and at once began to practice law with such energy 
and success as to excite the admiration of his associates. 
His restless spirit and his natural inclination towards 
literary pursuits did not allow him to remain long in the 
fetters of jurisprudence, and in 1771 he completed his final 
sketch of “Gotz von Berlichingen.” 

With the manuscript of this play in his pocket Goethe 
went to Wetzlar to attend the sittings of the courts of 
justice. Here he fell in love with a young girl named 
Lotte, who was, however, engaged to one Kestner. This 


viii 


INTRODUCTION. 


apparently made no difference to Goethe, who spent 
much of his time in the company of both Lotte and her 
fiance, until finally he discovered that things could not 
go on in this manner, and abruptly took his departure. 
This attachment is supposed to have been the inspiration 
for his ‘ ‘ W erther, ’ * which is the story of an unrequited love. 

In 1774, at the request of Anna Munch, a young lady 
to whom he was at that time engaged, he composed the 
play “Clavigo.” This play was written in eight days, 
and was not regarded with great favor by the author’s 
best friends. 

About the beginning of the year 1775 Goethe fell under 
the influence of Lili Schonemann, the daughter of a rich 
banker, whose father was dead, but whose mother con- 
ducted the business and presided over one of the most 
brilliant salons in Frankfort. To her inspiration were due 
a number of small poems and the comedy of “Stella,” 
which was afterwards changed to a tragedy. Neither 
family approved of this attachment, and, like some of its 
predecessors, it ended in Goethe’s bidding his ladylove 
an affecting farewell. 

In the latter part of 1775 Goethe attached himself to 
the house of the Duke ot' Weimar and became the inti- 
mate associate of the duke, who gave him a seat in the 
privy council and an income of nine hundred dollars a 
year. Never free from the influence of some woman, the 
author here became attached to Charlotte von Stein, who 
was thirty-three years old and the mother of seven chil- 
dren. To her he told every thought and every action of 
life, and she became more to him than any of his loves 
who had preceded her. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IX 


In 1786 Goethe withdrew from Weimar and made a 
visit to Italy, where he remained until June of 1788. 
This period is regarded as the most momentous of his 
intellectual development. He did some writing during 
this time, but most of his attention was given to draw- 
ing. He, however, revised two of his old works and com- 
pleted his “ Iphigenie.” 

Upon his return to Weimar he met and fell in love 
witha j^oung girl named Christiane Yulpus, who came to 
see him with some request in behalf of her brother. She 
was a girl without much education, but possessed a pretty 
face, beautiful golden hair and a well-rounded figure, and 
she eventually became the poet’s wife. 

During the six years which immediately followed his 
Italian journey Goethe devoted a great deal of time to the 
drama. Though he did very little writing, as director of 
the new theatre at Mannheim he gave a great deal of atten- 
tion to the details of scenery and acting. It was not 
until stimulated by his acquaintance with Schiller that 
Goethe again took up his work of literary composition. 
“Hermann and Dorothea” is said to have been a direct 
result of this friendship, and was completed in the spring 
of 1797. The zenith of the poet’s fame was reached in 
the following year in the publication of “ Faust,” a trans- 
lation of which is contained in the following pages. 

In 1805 the friendship between these two eminent 
poets was brought to a close by the death of Schiller. 
Goethe felt the loss of his friend very deeply, and as a 
testimonial of his devotion he wrote an epilogue to 
Schiller’s composition, “The Bell,” and arranged for its 
production. 


i* 


INTRODUCTION. 


x 


Shortly after his marriage in 1806 Goethe retired from 
active affairs, but in 1815 he was again compelled to 
assume a position in public life by his apppointment to 
the office of prime minister. This position he held until 
the death of his friend and patron the Grand Duke in 
1828. The poet’s death, which took place in 1833, seems 
to have been a very peaceful one. Seated in his arm- 
chair about half-past eleven the morning of October 22d, 
after an illness of only a few days, he fell into a deep 
slumber from which he never awakened. 


FAUST 


DRAMATIS PERSONAE. 

Characters in the Prologue for the Theatre. 

The Manager. 

The Dramatic Poet. 

Merryman. 

Characters in the Prologue in Heaven. 

The Lord. 

Raphael. ] 

Gabriel. > The Heavenly Host. 

Michael. J 
Mephistopheles. 

Characters in the Tragedy. 

Faust. 

Mephistopheles. 

Wagner, a Student. 

M argaret. 

Martha, Margaret’s Neighbor. 

Valentine, Margaret’s Brother. 

Old Peasant. 

A Student. 

Elizabeth, an Acquaintance of Margaret’s. 

Frosch. ) 

j- Guests in Auerbach’s Wine Cellar. 
Altmayer. J 

Witches, old and young; Wizards, Will-o’-the-wisp, Witch 
Pedlar, Protopliantasmist, Servibilis, Monkeys, Spirits, 
Journeymen, Country-folk, Citizens, Beggar, Old Fortune- 
teller, Shepherd, Soldier, Students, etc. 


Oberon. 

Titania. 


In the Intermezzo. 


Ariel. 

Puck, etc., etc. 


DEDICATION. 


Dim forms, ye hover near, a shadowy train, 

As erst upon my troubled sight ye stole. 

Say, shall I strive to hold you once again ? 

Still for the fond illusion yearns my soul ? 

Ye press around ! Come then, resume your reign, 5 

As upwards from the vapory mist ye roll ; 

Within my breast youth’s throbbing pulses bound, 

Fann’d by the magic air that breathes your march around. 
Shades fondly loved appear, your train attending, 

And visions fair of many a blissful day ; 10 

First-love and friendship their found accents blending, 

Like to some ancient, half expiring lay ; 

Sorrow revives, her wail of anguish sending 
Back o’er life’s devious labyrinthine way, 

The dear ones naming who, in life’s fair morn, 15 

By Fate beguiled, from my embrace were torn. 

They hearken not unto my later song, 

The souls to whom my earlier lays I sang ; 

Dispersed for ever is the friendly throng, 

Mute are the voices that responsive rang. 20 

My song resoundeth stranger crowds among, 

E’en their applause is to my heart a pang ; 

And those who heard me once with joyful heart, 

If yet they live, now wander far apart. 

A strange unwonted yearning doth my soul, 25 

To yon calm solemn spirit-land, upraise ; 

In faltering cadence now my numbers roll, 

As when, on harp JEolian, Zephyr plays ; 

My pulses thrill, tears flow without control, 

A tender mood my steadfast heart o’ersways ; 30 

What I possess as from afar I see ; 

Those I have lost become realities to me. 

( I 2 ) 


PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE. 
Manager. Dramatic Poet. Merryman. 


MANAGER. 

Ye twain, whom I so oft have found 
True friends in trouble and distress, 

Say, in our scheme on German ground, 

What prospect have we of success ? 

Fain would I please the public, win their thanks ; 
Because they live and let live, as is meet. 

The posts are now erected and the planks, 

And all look forward to a festal treat. 

Their places taken, they, with eyebrows rais'd, 

Sit patiently, and fain would be amaz'd. 

I know the art to hit the public tase, 

Yet so perplex’d I ne’er have been before; 

’Tis true, they’re not accustom’d to the best, 

But then they read immensely, that's the bore. 

How make our entertainment striking, new, 

And yet significant and pleasing too ? 

For to be plain, I love to see the throng, 

As to our booth the living tide progresses ; 

As wave on wave successive rolls along, 

And through heaven’s narrow portal forceful presses, 
Still in broad daylight, ere the clock strikes four, 

With blows their way towards the box they take ; 

And, as for bread in famine, at the baker’s door, 

For tickets are content their necks to break. 

Such various minds the bard alone can sway, 

My friend, oh work this miracle to-day ! 

(13 ) 


35 

40 

45 

50 

55 


14 


FAUST. 


POET. 

Oh speak not of the motley multitude, 

At whose aspect the spirit wings its flight ; 

Shut out the noisy crowd, whose vortex rude 
Still draws us downward with resistless might. 

Lead to some nook, where silence loves to brood, 

Where only for the bard blooms pure delight, 

Where love and friendship, gracious heavenly pair, 

Our hearts true bliss create, and tend with fostering care. 

What there up-welleth deep within the breast, 

What there the timid lip shap’d forth in sound, 

A failure now, now haply well expressed, 

In the wild tumult of the hour is drown’d ; 

Oft doth the perfect form then first invest 

The poet’s thought, when years have sped their round ; 

What dazzles satisfies the present hour, 

The genuine lives, of coming years the dower. 

MERRYMAN. 

This cant about posterity I hate ; 

About posterity were I to prate 

Who then the living would amuse ? For they 

Will have diversion, ay, and ’ tis their due. 

A sprightly fellow’s presence at your play, 

Methinks, should always go for something too ; 

Whose genial wit the audience still inspires, 

Is not embittered by its changeful mood ; 

A wider circle he desires, 

• To move with greater power, the multitude. 

To work, then ! Prove a master in your art ! 

Let phantasy with all her choral train, 

Sense, reason, feeling, passion, bear their part. 

But mark ! let folly also mingle in the strain. 


60 

65 

70 

75 

80 

85 


PROLOGUE. 


15 


MANAGER. 

And, chief, let incidents enough arise ! 

A show they want ; they come to feast their eyes. 
When stirring scenes before them are display’d, 

At which the gaping crowd may wondering gaze, 
Your reputation is already made, 

The man you are all love to praise. 

The masses you alone through masses can subdue. 
Each then selects in time what suits his bent. 

Bring much, you somewhat bring to not a few, 

And from the house goes every one content. 

You give a piece, in pieces give it, friend ! 

Such a ragout, success must needs attend ; 

’Tis easy to serve up, as easy to invent. 

A finish'd whole what boots it to present ! 

’Twill be in pieces by the public rent. 

POET. 

How mean such handicraft as this you cannot feel ! 
How it revolts the genuine artist’s mind ! 

The sorry trash in which these coxcombs deal 
Is here approved on principle, I find. 

MANAGER. 

Such a reproof disturbs me not a whit ! 

Who on efficient work is bent, 

Must choose the fittest instrument. 

Consider ! ’tis soft wood you have to split ; 

Think too for whom you write, I pray ! 

One comes to while an hour away ; 

One from the festive board, a sated guest ; 

Others, more dreaded than the rest, 

From journal-reading hurry to the play. 

As to a masquerade, with absent minds, they press, 
Sheer curiosity their footsteps winging ; 


90 

95 

100 

105 

110 

115 


i6 


FAUST. 


Ladies display their persons and their dress, 

Actors unpaid their service bringing. 

What dreams beguile you on your poet’s height? 
What puts a full house in a merry mood ? 

More closely view your patrons of the night ! 

The half are cold, the other half are rude. 

•One, the play over, craves a game of cards ; 

Another a wild night in wanton joy would spend. 
Poor fool, the muses’ fair regards 
Why court for such a paltry end ? 

I tell you, give them more, still more, ’tis all I ask. 
Thus you will ne’er stray widely from the goal ; 
Your audience seek to mystify, cajole ; — 

To satisfy them — that’s a harder task. 

What ails thee ? art enraptured or distressed ? 

POET. 

Depart ! elsewhere another servant choose ! 

What ! shall the bard his godlike power abuse ? 
Man’s loftiest right, kind nature’s high bequest, 

For your mean purpose basely sport away ? 

Whence comes his mastery o’er the human breast, 
Whence o’er the elements his sway, 

But from the harmony that, gushing from his soul, 
Draws back into his heart the wondrous whole ? 
When round her spindle, with unceasing drone, 
Nature still whirls th’ unending thread of life ; 
When Being’s jarring crowds, together thrown, 
Mingle in harsh inextricable strife ; 

Who deals tlieir course unvaried till it falls, 

In rhythmic flow to music’s measur’d tone ? 

Each solitary note whose genius calls, 

To swell the mighty choir in unison? 

Who in the raging storm sees passion lour, 


120 

125 

130 

135 

140 

145 

150 


PROLOGUE. 


17 


Or flush of earnest thought in evening’s glow, 

Who, in the springtide, every fairest flower 
Along the loved one’s path would strow ? 

From green and common leaves whose hand doth twine, 
The wreath of glory, won in every field ? 

Makes sure Olympos, blends the powers divine ? — 
Man’s mighty spirit, in the bard reveal’d ! 

MEREYMAN. 

Come then, employ your lofty inspiration, 

And carry on the poet’s avocation, 

Just as we carry on a love affair, 

Two meet by chance, are pleased, they linger there 
Insensibly are link’d, they scarce know how ; 

Fortune seems now propitious, adverse now, 

Then come alternate rapture and despair ; 

And ’tis a true romance ere one’s aware. 

Just such a drama let us now compose, 

Plunge boldly into life — its depths disclose ! 

Each lives it, not to many is it known, 

’Twill interest wheresoever seiz’d and shown ; 

Bright pictures, but obscure their meaning : 

A ray of truth through error gleaming, 

Thus you the best elixir brew, 

To charm mankind, and edify them too. 

Then youth’s fair blossoms crowd to view your play, 
And wait as on an oracle ; while they, 

The tender souls, who love the melting mood, 

Suck from your work their melancholy food ; 

Now this one, and now that, you deeply stir, 

Each sees the working of his heart laid bare ; 

Their tears, their laughter, you command with ease; 
The lofty still they honor, the illusive love, 


155 

160 

165 

170 

175 

180 


i8 FAUST. 

Your finish'd gentlemen you ne’er can please ; 
A growing mind alone will grateful prove. 

POET. 

Then give me back youth’s golden prime, 
When my own spirit too w r as growing, 

When from my heart th* unbidden rhyme 
Gush’d forth, a fount for ever flowing ; 

Then shadowy mist the world conceal’d, 

And every bud sweet promise made, 

Of wonders yet to be reveal’d, 

As through the vales, with blooms inlaid, 
Culling a thousand flowers I stray d. 

Naught had I, yet a rich profusion ; 

The thirst for truth, jov in each fond illusion. 
Give me unquell’d those impulses to prove ; — 
Rapture so deep, its ecstasy was pain, 

The power of hate, the energy of love, 

Give me, oh give me back my youth again ! 

MERRYMAN. 

Youth, my good friend, you certainly require 
When foes in battle round you press, 

When a fair maid, her heart on fire, 

Hangs on your neck with fond caress, 

When from afar, the victor’s crown, 

Allures you in the race to run ; 

Or when in revelry you drown 

Your sense, the whirling dance being done. 

But the familiar chords among 

Boldly to sweep, with graceful cunning, 

While to its goal, the verse along 
Its winding path is sweetly running ; 

This task is yours, old gentlemen, to-day ; 
Nor are you therefore in less reverence held ; 


185 

190 

195 

200 

205 

210 


PROLOGUE. 


19 


Age does not make us childish, as folk say, 

It finds us genuine children e’en in eld. 

MANAGER. 

A truce to words, mere empty sound, 215 

Let deeds at length appear, my friends ! 

While idle compliments you round. 

You might achieve some useful ends. 

Why talk of the poetic vein ? 

Who hesitates will never know it ; 220 

If bards ye are, as ye maintain, 

Now let your inspiration show it. 

To you is known what we require, 

Strong drink to sip is our desire ; 

Come, brew me such without delay ! 225 

To-morrow sees undone, what happens not to-day ; 

Still forward press, nor ever tire ! 

The possible, with steadfast trust, 

Besolve should by the forelock grasp ; 

Then she will ne’er let go her clasp, 230 

And labors on, because she must. 

On German boards, you’re w r ell aware, 

The taste of each may have full sway; 

Therefore in bringing out your play, 

Nor scenes nor mechanism spare ! 235 

Heaven’s lamps employ, the greatest and the least. 

Be lavish of the stellar lights, 

Water, and fire, and tocky heights, 

Spare not at all, nor birds nor beast. 

Thus let creation’s ample sphere 240 

Forthwith in this our narrow booth appear, 

And with considerate speed, through fancy’s spell, 

Journey from heaven, thence through the world, to hell ! 


PROLOGUE IN HEAVEN. 


The Lord. The Heavenly Hosts. Afterwards 
Mephistopheles. 

The three Archangels come forward. 

RAPHAEL. 

Still quiring as in ancient time 
With brother spheres in rival song, 

The sun with thunder- march sublime 
Moves his predestin’d course along. 

Angels are strengthen’d by his sight, 5 

Though fathom him no angel may ; 

Resplendent are the orbs of light, 

As on creation’s primal day. 

GABRIEL. 

And lightly spins earth’s gorgeous sphere, 

Swifter than thought its rapid flight ; 10 

Alternates Eden-brightness clear, 

With solemn, dread-inspiring night ; 

The foaming waves, with murmurs hoarse, 

Against the rocks’ deep base are hurl’d ; 

And in the sphere’s eternal course 15 

Are rocks and ocean swiftly whirl’d. 

MICHAEL. 

And rival tempests rush amain 
From sea to land, from land to sea, 

And raging form a wondrous chain 
Of deep mysterious agency ; 

( 20 ) 


20 


PROLOGUE. 


21 


Full in the thunder’s fierce career, 

Flaming the swift destructions play ; 

But, Lord, thy messengers revere 
The mild procession of thy day. 

THE THREE. 

Angels are strengthened by thy sight, 

Though fathom thee no angel may ; 

Thy works still shine with splendor bright, 

As on creation’s primal day. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Since thou, O Lord, approachest us once more, 

And how it fares with us, to ask art fain, 

Since then hast kindly welcomed me of yore, 

Thou see’st me also now among thy train. 

Excuse me, fine harangues I cannot make, 

Though all the circle look on me with scorn ; 

My pathos soon thy laughter would awake, 

Hadst thou the laughing mood not long forsworn. 

Of suns and worlds I nothing have to say, 

I see alone mankind’s self-torturing pains. 

The little world-gold still the self-same stamp retains, 
And is as wondrous now as on the primal day. 

Better he might have fared, poor wight, 

Hadst thou not given him a gleam of heavenly light ; 

Reason he names it, and doth so 

Use it, than brutes more brutish still to grow. 

With deference to your grace, he seems to me 
Like any like long-legged grasshopper to be, 

Which ever flies, and flying springs, 

And in the grass its ancient ditty sings. 

Would he but always in the grass repose ! 

In every heap of dung he thrusts his nose. 


25 

30 

35 

40 

45 


50 


22 


FAUST. 


THE LORD. 

Hast thou naught else to say? Is blame 
In coming here, as ever, thy sole aim? 

Does nothing on the earth to thee seem right ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

No, Lord ! I find things there in miserable plight. 

Men’s wretchedness in sooth I so deplore, 55 

Not even I would plague the sorry creatures more. 

THE LORD. 

Know’st thou my servant, Faust? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

The doctor? 

THE LORD. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

He serves thee in strange fashion, as I think. 

Poor fool ! Not earthly is his food or drink. 

An inward impulse hurries him afar, 

Himself half conscious of his frenzied mood ; 

From heaven claimeth he its brightest star, 

And from the earth craves every highest good, 

And all that’s near, and all that’s far, 

Fails to allay the tumult in his blood. 

THE LORD. 

Though now he serves me with imperfect sight, 

I will ere long conduct him to the light: 

The gard’ner knoweth, when the green appears, 

That flowers and fruit will crown the coming years. 


Eight. 


60 


65 


PROLOGUE. 


23 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

What wilt thou wager? Him thou yet shalt lose 
If leave to me thou wilt but give, 

Gently to lead him as I choose ! 

THE LORD. 

So long as he on earth doth live, 

So long ’tis not forbidden thee. 

Man still must err, while he doth strive. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I thank you ; for not willingly 

I traffic with the dead, and still aver 

That youth’s plump blooming cheek I very much prefer. 

I’m not at home to corpses ; ’tis my way, 

Like cats with captive mice to toy and play. 

THE LORD. 

Enough ! ’tis granted thee ! Divert 
This mortal spirit from his primal source ; 

Him, canst thou seize, thy power exert 
And lead him on thy downward course, 

Then stand abash’d, when thou perforce must own, 

A good man, in the direful grasp of ill, 

His consciousness of right retaineth still. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Agreed ! — the wager will be quickly won. 

For my success no fears I entertain : „ 

And if my end I finally should gain. 

Excuse my triumphing with all my soul. 

Dust he shall eat, ay, and with relish take 
As did my cousin, the renowned snake. 


70 

75 

80 

85 

90 


24 


FAUST. 


THE LORD. 

Here too thou’rt free to act without control ; 

I ne’er have cherished hate for such as thee. 95 

Of all the spirits who deny, 

The scoffer is least wearisome to me. 

Ever too prone is man activity to shirk, 

In unconditioned rest he fain would live ; 

Hence this companion purposely I give, 100 

Who stirs, excites, and must, as devil, work. 

But ye, the genuine sons of heaven, rejoice ! 

In the full living beauty still rejoice ! 

May that which works and lives, the ever-growing, 

In bonds of love enfold you, mercy-fraught, 105 

And Seeming’s changeful forms, around you flowing, 

Do ye arrest, in ever-during thought ! 

( Heaven closes, the Archangels disperse . ) 

mephistopheles {alone). 

The ancient one I like sometimes to see, 

And not to break with him am always civil ; 

’Tis courteous in so great a lord as he, 

To speak so kindly even to the devil. 


110 


Night. 

A high vaulted narrow Gothic chamber. 

Faust, restless, seated at his desk. 

Faust. 

I have, alas ! Philosophy, 

Medicine, Jurisprudence too, 

And to my cost Theology, 

With ardent labor, studied through. 

And here I stand, with all my lore, 

Poor fool, no wiser than before. 

Magister, doctor styled, indeed, 

Already these ten years I lead, 

Up, down, across, and to and fro. 

My pupils by the nose, — and learn, 

That we in truth can nothing know ! 

This in my heart like fire doth burn. 

’Tis true, I’ve more cunning than all your dull tribe, 
Magister and doctor, priest, parson, and scribe ; 

Scruple or doubt comes not to enthrall me, 

Neither can devil nor hell now appal me — 

Hence also my heart must all pleasure forego ! 

I may not pretend, aught rightly to know, 

I may not pretend, through teaching, to find 
A means to improve or convert mankind. 

Then I have neither goods nor treasure, 

No worldly honor, rank, or pleasure ; 

No dog in such fashion would longer live! 

Therefore myself to magic *T give, 

In hope, through spirit voice and might, 

2 (25) 


5 

10 

15 

20 

25 


26 


FAUST. 


Secrets now veiled to bring to light, 

That I no more, with aching brow, 

Need speak of what I nothing know ; 

That I the force may recognize 
That binds creation’s inmost energies ; 

Her vital powers, her embryo seeds survey, 
And fling the trade in empty words away. 
O full-orb’ d moon, did but thy rays 
Their last upon mine anguish gaze ! 

Beside this desk, at dead of night, 

Oft have I watched to hail thy light : 

Then, pensive friend ! o’er book and scroll, 
With soothing power, thy radiance stole ! 
In thy dear light, ah, might I climb, 
Freely, some mountain height sublime, 
Bound mountain caves with spirits ride, 

In thy mild haze o’er meadows glide, 

And, purged from knowledge-fumes, renew 
My spirit, in thy healing dew. 

Woe's me ! still prison’d in the gloom 
Of this abhorr d and musty room, 

Where heaven’s dear light itself doth pass 
But dimly through the painted glass ! 
Hemmed in by volumes thick with dust, 

A prey to worms and mouldering rust, 

And to the high vault’s topmost bound, 
With smoky paper compass’d round ; 

With boxes round thee piled, and glass, 
And many a useless instrument, 

With old ancestral lumber blent — 

This is thy world ! a world ! alas ! 

And dost thou ask why heaves thy heart, 


30 

35 

40 

45 

50 

55 


FAUST. 


27 


With tighten’d pressure in thy breast? 

"Why the dull ache will not depart, 

By which thy life-pulse is oppress’d ? 60 

Instead of nature’s living sphere, 

Created for mankind of old, 

Brute skeletons surround thee here, 

And dead men’s bones in smoke and mould. 

Up ! Forth into the distant land I 65 

Is not this hook of mystery 
By Nostradamus’ proper hand, 

An all-sufficient guide ? Thou’ It see 
The courses of the stars unroll’d ; 

When nature doth her thoughts unfold 70 

To thee, thy soul shall rise, and seek 
Communion high with her to hold, 

As spirit doth with spirit speak ! 

Vain by dull poring to divine 

The meaning of each hallow’d sign. 75 

Spirits ! I feel you hov’ring near ; 

Make answer, if my voice ye hear 1 

{He opens the hook and perceives the sign of the 
Macrocosmos. 

Ah ! at this spectacle through every sense, 

What sudden ecstasy of joy is flowing ! 

I feel new rapture, hallow’d and intense, 80 

Through every nerve and vein with ardor glowing. 

Was it a god who character’d this scroll, 

Which doth the inward tumult still, 

The troubled heart with rapture fill, 

And by a mystic impulse, to my soul, 85 

Unveils the working of the wondrous whole? 

Am I a God ? What light intense ! 


28 


FAUST. 


In these pure symbols do I see, 

Nature exert her vital energy. 

Now of the wise man’s words I learn the sense ; 90 

“ Unlock’d the spirit-world doth lie ; 

Thy sense is shut, thy heart is dead ! 

Up scholar, lave, with courage high, 

Thine earthly breast in the morning-red 1” 

(He contemplates the sign.) 

How all things live and work, and ever blending, 95 

Weave one vast whole from Being’s ample range ! 

How powers celestial, rising and descending, 

Their golden buckets ceaseless interchange 1 
Their flight on rapture-breathing pinions winging, 

From heaven to earth their genial influence bringing, 100 
Through the wide sphere their chimes melodious ringing ! 

A wondrous show ! but ah ! a show alone ! 

Where shall I grasp thee, infinite nature, where? 

Ye breasts, ye fountains of all life, whereon 
Hang heaven and earth, from which the withered heart 
For solace yearns, ye still impart 105 

Your sweet and fostering tides— where are ye — where? 

Ye gush, and must I languish in despair? 

(He turns over the leaves of the hook impatiently , and 
perceives the sign of the Earth-spirit . ) 

How all unlike the influence of this sign ! 

Earth-spirit, thou to me art nigher, 110 

E’en now my strength is rising higher, 

E’en now I glow as with new wine ; 

Courage I feel, abroad the world to dare, 

The woe of earth, the bliss of earth to bear, 

To mingle with the lightnings’ glare, 115 

And mid the crashing shipwreck not despair. 


FAUST. 


29 


Clouds gather over me — 

The moon conceals her light — 

The lamp is quench’d — 

Vapors are rising — Quiv’ring round my head 120 

Flash the red beams — Down from the vaulted roof 
A shuddering horror floats, 

And seizes me ! 

I feel it, spirit, prayer-compell’d, ’tis thou 

Art hovering near ! 125 

Unveil thyself ! 

Ha ! How my heart is riven now ! 

Each sense, with eager palpitation, 

Is strain’d to catch some new sensation ! 

I feel my heart surrender’d unto thee ! 130 

Thou must ! Thou must ! Though life should be the fee ! 

(He seizes the book , and pronounces mysteriously the 
sign of the spirit. A ruddy flame flashes up : 
' the spirit appears in the flame . ) 


Who calls me ? 


SPIRIT. 

faust ( turning aside). 


Dreadful shape ! 


SPIRIT. 

With might, 

Thou hast compell’d me to appear, 

Long hast been sucking at my sphere, 

And now — 

FAUST. 

Woe’s me ! I cannot bear thy sight. 135 


SPIRIT. 

To know me thou did’st breathe thy prayer, 
My voice to hear, to gaze upon my brow ; 


30 


FAUST. 


Me doth thy strong entreaty bow — 

Lo ! I am here ! — What pitiful despair 

Grasps thee, the demigod ! Where’s now the soul’s deep 


140 


cry? 


Where is the breast, which in its depths a world con- 
ceiv’d, 

And bore and cherish’d ; which, with ecstasy, 

To rank itself with us, the spirits, heav’d ? 

Where art thou, Faust? whose voice I heard resound, 

Who towards me press’d with energy profound? 145 

Art thou he? Thou, — whom thus my breath can blight 
Whose inmost being with affright 
Trembles, a crush’d and writhing worm ! 


FAUST. 


Shall I yield, thing of flame, to thee? 
Faust, and thine equal, I am he ! 


150 


SPIRIT. 

In the currents of life, in action’s storm, 


I float and I wave 
With billowy motion ! 
Birth and the grave, 

A limitless ocean, 

A constant weaving 
With change still rife, 
A restless heaving, 

A glowing life — 


155 


Thus time’s whirring loom unceasing I ply, 
And weave the life garment of deity. 


160 


FAUST. 


Thou, restless spirit, dost from end to end 
O’ersweep the world ; how near I feel to thee ! 


FAUST. 


3i 


SPIRIT. 

Thou'rt like the spirit, thou dost comprehend. 

Not me ! ( Vanishes. ) 165 

faust ( deeply moved). 

Not thee ? 

Whom then ? 

I, God’s own image ! 

And not rank with thee ? ( A knock.) 

Oh death ! I know it — ’tis my famulus — 170 

My fairest fortune now escapes ! 

That all these visionary shapes 
A soulless groveller should banish thus ! 

(Wagner in his dressing-gown and nightcap , a 
lamp in his hand. Faust turns round re- 
luctantly. ) 

WAGNER. 

Pardon ! I heard you here declaim ; 

A Grecian tragedy you doubtless read ? 175 

Improvement in this art is now my aim, 

For nowadays it much avails. Indeed 
An actor, oft I’ve heard it said at least, 

May give instruction even to a priest. 

FAUST. 

Ay, if your priest should be an actor too, 180 

As not improbably may come to pass. 

WAGNER. 

When in his study pent the whole year through, 

Man views the world, as through an optic glass, 

On a chance holiday, and scarcely then, 

How by persuasion can he govern men ? 


185 


32 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

If feeling prompt not, if it doth not flow 
Fresh from the spirit’s depths, with strong control 
Swaying to rapture every listener’s soul, 

Idle your toil ; the chase you may forego ! 

Brood o’er your task ! Together glue, 

Cook from another’s feast your own ragout, 

Still prosecute your paltry game, 

And fan your ash-heaps into flame ! 

Thus children’s wonder you’ll excite, 

And apes’, if such your appetite : 

But that which issues from the heart alone, 

Will bend the hearts of others to your own. 

WAGNER. 

The speaker in delivery will find 
Success alone ; I still am far behind. 

FAUST. 

A worthy object still pursue ! 

Be not a hollow tinkling fool 1 
Sound understanding, judgment true, 

Find utterance without art or rule ; 

And when with earnestness you speak, 

Then is it needful cunning words to seek ? 

Your fine harangues, so polish’d in their kind, 
Wherein the shreds of human thought ye twist, 

Are unrefreshing as the empty wind, 

Whistling through wither’d leaves and autumn mist ! 

WAGNER. 

Oh Heavens ! art is long and life is short I 

Still as I prosecute with earnest zeal 

The critic’s toil, I’m haunted by this thought, 


190 

195 

200 

205 

210 


FAUST. 


33 


And vague misgivings o’er my spirit steal. 

The very means how hardly are they won, 

By which we to the fountains rise ! 

And, haply, ere one-half the course is run, 

Check’d in his progress, the poor devil dies. 

FAUST. 

Parchment, is that the sacred fount whence roll 
Waters, he thirsteth not who once hath quaffed ? 

Oh, if it gush not from thine inmost soul, 

Thou hast not won the life-restoring draught. 

WAGNER. 

Your pardon ! ’tis delightful to transport 
Oneself into the spirit of the past, 

To see in times before us how a wise man thought, 
And what a glorious height we have achieved at last. 

FAUST. 

Ay truly ! even to the loftiest star ! 

To us, my friend, the ages that are pass’d 
A book with seven seals, close-fasten’d, are ; 

And what the spirit of the times men call, 

Is merely their own spirit after all, 

Wherein, distorted oft, the times are glass’d. 

Then truly, ’tis a sight to grieve the soul ! 

At the first glance we fly it in dismay ; 

A very lumber-room, a rubbish-hole ; 

At best a sort of mock-heroic play, 

With saws pragmatical, and maxims sage, 

To suit the puppets and their mimic stage. 

WAGNER. 

But then the world and man, his heart and brain ! 
Touching these things all men would something know. 

2* 


215 

220 

225 

230 

235 


34 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Ay ! what ’mong men as knowledge doth obtain ! 240 

Who on the child its true name dares bestow ? 

The few who somewhat of these things have known, 

Who their full hearts unguardedly reveal’d, 

Nor thoughts, nor feelings, from the mob conceal’d, 

Have died on crosses, or in flames been thrown. — 245 

Excuse me, friend, far now the night is spent, 

For this time we must say adieu. 

WAGNER. 

Still to watch on I had been well content, 

Thus to converse so learnedly with you. 

But as to-morrow will be Easter day, 

Some further questions grant, I pray ; 

With diligence to study still I fondly cling ; 

Already I know much, but would know everything 

faust {alone). 

How he alone is ne’er bereft of hope, 

Who clings to tasteless trash with zeal untir’d, 255 

Who doth, with greedy hand, for treasure grope, 

And finding earth-worms, is with joy inspir’d 1 

And dare a voice of merely human birth, 

E’en here, where shapes immortal throng’d, intrude? 

Yet ah ! thou poorest of the sons of earth, 260 

For once, I e’en to thee feel gratitude. 

Despair the power of sense did well-nigh blast, 

And thou didst save me ere I sank dismay’d ; 

So giant-like the vision seem’d, so vast, 

I felt myself shrink dwarf’d as I survey’d I 

I, God’s own image, from this toil of clay 


250 

. {Exit.) 


265 


FAUST. 


35 


Already freed, with eager joy who hail’d 
The mirror of eternal truth unveil’d, 

Mid light effulgent and celestial day : — 

I, more than cherub, whose unfetter’ d soul 270 

With penetrative glance aspir’d to flow 
Through nature’s veins, and, still creating, know 
The life of gods, — how am I punish’d now ! 

One thunder-word hath hurl’d me from the goal ! 

Spirit ! I dare not lift me to thy sphere. 275 

What though my power compell’d thee to appear, 

My art was powerless to detain thee here. 

In that great moment, rapture-fraught, 

I felt myself so small, so great ; 

Fiercely didst thrust me from the realm of thought 
Back on humanity’s uncertain fate ! 280 

Who’ll teach me now ? What ought I to forego ? 

Ought I that impulse to obey ? 

Alas ! our every deed, as well as every woe, 

Impedes the tenor of life’s onward way ! 285 

E’en to the noblest by the soul conceiv’d, 

Some feelings cling of baser quality ; 

And when the goods of this world are achiev’d, 

Each nobler aim is term’d a cheat, a lie. 

Our aspirations, our soul’s genuine life, 290 

Grow torpid in the din of earthly strife. 

Though youthful phantasy, while hope inspires, 

Stretch o’er the infinite her wing sublime, 

A narrow compass limits her desires, 

When wreck’d our fortunes in the gulf of time. 295 
In the deep heart of man care builds her nest, 

O’er secret woes she broodeth there, 


36 


FAUST. 


Sleepless she rocks herself and scareth joy and rest ; 
Still is she wont some new disguise to wear, 

She may as house and court, as wife and child appear, 
As dagger, poison, fire and flood ! 300 

Imagined evils chill thy blood, 

And what thou ne’er shall lose, o’er that dost shed the 
tear. 

I am not like the gods ! Feel it I must ; 

I’m like the earth-worm, writhing in the dust, 305 
Which, as on dust it feeds, its native fare, 

Crushed ’neath the passer’s tread, lies buried there. 

Is it not dust, wherewith this lofty wall, 

With hundred shelves, confines me round, 

Rubbish, in thousand shapes, may I not call 310 

What in this moth-world doth my being bound ? 

Here, what doeth fail me, shall I find ? 

Read in a thousand tomes that, everywhere, 

Self-torture is the lot of human-kind, 

W 7 ith but one mortal happy, here and there ? 315 

Thou hollow skull, that grin, what should it say, 

But that thy brain, like mine, of old perplexed, 

Still yearning for the truth, hath sought the light of day, 
And in the twilight wander’d, sorely vexed? 

Ye instruments, forsooth, ye mock at me, — 320 

With wheel, and cog, and ring, and cylinder ; 

To nature’s portals ye should be the key ; 

Cunning your wards, and yet the bolts ye fail to stir. 
Inscrutable in broadest light, 

To be unveil’d by force she doth refuse, 325 

What she reveals not to thy mental sight, 

Thou wilt not wrest from her with levers and with screws. 
Old useless furnitures, yet stand ye here, 


FAUST. 


37 


Because my sire ye served, now dead and gone. 

Old scroll, the smoke of years dost wear, 330 

So long as o’er this desk the sorry lamp hath shone. 

Better my little means have squandered quite away, 

Than burden’d by that little here to sweat and groan ! 
Wouldst thou possess thy heritage, essay 
By use to render it thine own ! 335 

What we employ not, but impedes our way, 

That which the hour creates, that can it use alone ! 

But wherefore to yon spot is riveted my gaze ? 

Is yonder flasket there a magnet to my sight ? 

Whence this mild radiance that around me plays, 340 

As when, ’mid forest gloom, reigneth the moon’s soft light ? 
Hail, precious phial ! Thee, with reverent awe, 

Down from thine old receptacle I draw ! 

Science in thee I hail and human art. 

Essence of deadliest powers, refin’d and sure, 345 

Of soothing anodynes abstraction pure, 

Now in thy master’s need thy grace impart ! 

1 gaze on thee, my pain is lull’d to rest ; 

I grasp thee, calm’d the tumult in my breast ; 

The flood-tide of my spirit ebbs away ; 350 

Onward I’m summon’d o’er a boundless main, 

Calm at my feet expands the glassy plain, 

To shores unknown allures a brighter day. 

Lo, where a car of fire, on airy pinion, 

Comes floating towards me ! I’m prepar’d to fly 355 

By a new track through ether’s wide dominion, 

To distant spheres of pure activity. 

This life intense, this godlike ecstasy — 

Worm that thou art such rapture canst thou earn ? 

Only resolve with courage stern and high, 


360 


38 


FAUST. 


Thy visage from the radiant sun to turn ; 

Dare with determin’d will to burst the portals 
Past which in terror others fain would steal ! 

Now is the time, through deeds, to show that mortals 
The calm sublimity of gods can feel ; 

To shudder not at yonder dark abyss, 

Where phantasy .creates her own self-torturing brood, 

Right onward to the yawning gulf to press, 

Around whose narrow jaws rolleth hell’s fiery flood ; 

With glad resolve to take the fatal leap, 

Though danger threaten thee, to sink in endless sleep ! 

Pure crystal goblet, forth I draw thee now, 

From out thine antiquated case, where thou 
Forgotten hast reposed for many a year ! 

Oft at my father’s revels thou didst shine, 375 

To glad the earnest guests was thine, 

As each to other passed the generous cheer, 

The gorgeous brede of figures, quaintly wrought, 

Which he who quaff’d must first in rhyme expound, 

Then drain the goblet at one draught profound, 380 

Hath nights of boyhood to fond memory brought. 

I to my neighbor shall not reach thee now, 

Nor on thy rich device shall I my cunning show. 

Here is a juice, makes drunk without delay ; 

Its dark brown flood thy crystal round doth fill ; 385 

Let this last draught, the product of my skill, 

My own free choice, be quaff’d with resolute will, 

A solemn festive greeting, to the coming day ! 

( He places the goblet to his mouth. ) 

( The ringing of bells, and choral t voices.) 
Chorus of Angels. 

Christ is arisen ! 

Mortal, all hail to thee, 


365 


370 


390 


FAUST. 


39 


Thou whom mortality, 

Earth’s sad reality, 

Held as in prison. 

FAUST. 

What hum melodious, what clear silvery chime, 
Thus draws the goblet from my lips away ? 

Ye deep-ton’ d bells, do ye with voice sublime, 
Announce the solemn dawn of Easter-day ? 

Sweet choir ! are ye the hymn of comfort singing, 
Which once around the darkness of the grave, 
From seraph- voices, in glad triumph ringing, 

Of a new covenant assurance gave ? 

CHORUS OF WOMEN. 

We, his true-hearted, 

With spices and myrrh, 

Embalmed the departed, 

And swathed him with care ! 

Here we conveyed Him, 

Our Master, so dear ; 

Alas ! Where we laid Him, 

The Christ is not here. 

CHORUS OF ANGELS. 

Christ is arisen ! 

Perfect through earthly ruth, 

Eadiant with love and truth, 

He to eternal youth 
Soars from earth’s prison. 

FAUST. 

Wherefore, ye tones celestial, sweet and strong, 
Come ye a dweller in the dust to seek ? 


395 

400 

405 

410 

415 


40 


FAUST. 


Bing out your chimes believing crowds among, 

The message well I hear, my faith alone is weak ; 

From faith her darling, miracle, hath sprung. 

Aloft to yonder spheres I dare not soar, 420 

Whence sound the tidings of great joy ; 

And yet, with this sweet strain familiar when a boy, 

Back it recalleth me to life once more. 

Then would celestial love, with holy kiss, 

Come o’er me in the Sabbath’s stilly hour, 425 

While, fraught with solemn meaning and mysterious power. 
Chim’d the deep-sounding bell, and prayer was bliss ; 

A yearning impulse, undefin’d yet dear, 

Drove me to wander on through wood and field ; 

With heaving breast and many a burning tear, 430 

I felt with holy joy a world reveal’d. 

Gay sports and festive hours proclaimed with joyous pealing, 
This Easter hymn in days of old ; 

And fond remembrance now, doth me, with childlike feel- 
ing, 

Back from the last, the solemn step, withhold. 435 

O still sound on, thou sweet celestial strain ! 

The tear-drop flows, — Earth, I am thine again ! 

CHORUS OF DISCIPLES. 

He whom we mourned as dead, 

Living and glorious, 

From the dark grave hath fled, 440 

O’er death victorious ; 

Almost creative bliss 
Waits on his growing powers ; 

Ah ! Him on earth we miss ! 

Sorrow and grief are ours. 445 

Yearning he left his own. 


FAUST. 


41 


Mid sore annoy ; 

Ah ! we must needs bemoan, 
Master, thy joy ! 

CHORUS OF ANGELS. 
Christ is arisen, 

Redeem’d from decay. 

The bonds which imprison 
Your souls, rend away ! 

Praising the Lord with zeal, 

By deeds that love reveal, 

Like brethren true and leal 
Sharing the daily meal, 

To all that sorrow feel 
Whisp’ring of heaven’s weal, 

Still is the master near, 

Still is he here ! 

Before the Gate. 
Promenaders of all sorts pass out. 

* ARTISANS. 

Why choose ye that direction, pray ? 

OTHERS. 

To the hunting-lodge we’re on our way. 

THE FIRST. 

We towards the mill are strolling on. 

A MECHANIC. 

A walk to Wasserhof were best. 

A SECOND. 

The road is not a pleasant one. 


450 

455 

460 

465 


42 


FAUST. 


THE OTHERS. 

What will you do ? 

A THIRD. 

I’ll join the rest. 

A FOURTH. 

Let’s up to Burgliof, there you’ll find good cheer, 

The prettiest maidens and the best of beer, 

And brawls of a prime sort. 

A FIFTH. 

You scapegrace ! How ; 470 

Your skin still itching for a row ? 

Thither I will not go, I loathe the place. 

SERVANT GIRL. 

No, no ! I to the town my steps retrace. 

ANOTHER. 

Near yonder poplars he is sure to be. 

THE FIRST. 

And if he is, what matters it to me ! 475 

With you he’ll w’alk, he’ll dance with none but you, 

And with your pleasures what have I to do ? 

THE SECOND. 

To-day he will not be alone, he said 

His friend would be with him, the curly-head. 

STUDENT. 

Why how those buxom girls step on ! 480 

Come, brother, we will follow them anon. 

Strong beer, a damsel smartly dress’d, 

Stinging tobacco, — these I love the best. 


FAUST. 


burgher’s daughter. 

Look at those handsome fellows there ! 

’Tis really shameful, I declare, 

The very best society they shun, 

After those servant-girls, forsooth, to run. 

SECOND STUDENT ( to the first). 

Not quite so fast ! for in our rear, 

Two girls, well-dress’d, are drawing near ; 

Not far from us the one doth dwell, 

And sooth to say I like her well. 

They walk demurely, yet you’ll see, 

That they will let us join them presently. 

THE FIRST. 

Not I ! restraints of all kinds I detest. 

Quick ! let us catch the wild-game ere it flies, 

The hand on Saturday the mop that plies, 

Will on the Sunday fondle you the best. 

BURGHER. 

No, this new Burgomaster, I like him not ; each hour 
He grows more arrogant, now that lie’s raised to power 
And for the town, what doth he do for it ? 

Are not things worse from day to-day ? 

To more restraints we must submit, 

And taxes more than ever pay. 

Beggar (sings). 

Kind gentlemen and ladies fair, 

So rosy-cheek’d and trimly dress’d, 

Be pleas’d to listen to my prayer, 

Believe and pity the distress’d. 

Let me not vainly sing my lay ! 


44 


FAUST. 


His heart’s most glad whose hand is free. 
Now when all men keep holiday, 

Should be a harvest-day to me. 

ANOTHER BURGHER. 

I know naught better on a holiday, 

Than chatting about war and war’s alarms. 

When folk in Turkey are all up in arms, 

Fighting their deadly battles far away, 

We at the window stand, our glasses drain, 

And watch adown the stream the painted vessels glide, 
Then, blessing peace and peaceful times, again 
Homeward we turn our steps at eventide. 

THIRD BURGHER. 

Ay, neighbor ! So let matters stand for me ! 

There they may scatter one another’s brains, 

And wild confusion round them see — 

So here at home in quiet all remains ! 

old woman (to the burghers’ daughters). 
Heyday ! How smart ! The fresh young blood ! 

Who would not fall in love with you ? 

Not quite so proud ! ’Tis well and good ! 

And what you wish, that I could help you to. 

burgher’s daughter. 

Come, Agatha 1 I care not to be seen 
Walking in public with these witches. True, 

My future lover, last St. Andrew's E’en, 

In flesh and blood she brought before my view. 

ANOTHER. 

And mine she show’d me also in the glass. 

A soldier’s figure, with companions bold ; 


510 

515 

520 

525 

530 


FAUST. 


45 


I look around, I seek him as I pass, 

In vain, his form I nowhere can behold. 535 

SOLDIERS. 

Fortress with turrets 
Rising in air, 

Damsel disdainful, 

Haughty and fair, 

These be my prey ! 540 

Bold is the venture, 

Costly the pay ! 

Hark how the trumpet 
Thither doth call us, 

Where either pleasure 545 

Or death may befall us. 

Hail to the tumult ! 

Life’s in the field ! 

Damsel and fortress 

To us must yield. 550 

Bold is the venture, 

Costly the pay ! 

Gaily the soldier 
Marches away. 

Faust and Wagner. 

FAUST. 

Loosed from their fetters are streams and rills 555 

Through the gracious spring-tide’s all-quickening glow ; 
Hope’s budding joy in the vale doth blow ; 

Old Winter back to the savage hills 
Withdraweth his force, decrepit now. 

Thence only impotent icy grains 560 

Scatters he as he wings his flight, 


4 6 


FAUST. 


Striping with sleet the verdant plains ; 

But the sun endureth no trace of white ; 
Everywhere growth and movement are rife, 
All things investing with hues of life : 
Though flowers are lacking, varied of dye, 
Their colors the motley throng supply. 

Turn thee around, and from this height, 

Back to the town direct thy sight. 

Forth from the hollow, gloomy gate, 

Stream forth the masses, in bright array. 
Gladly seek they the sun to-day ; 

The Besurrection they celebrate : 

For they themselves have risen, with joy, 
From tenement sordid, from cheerless room, 
From bonds of toil, from care and annoy, 
From gable and roof’s o'erhanging gloom, 
From crowded alley and narrow street, 

And from the churches’ awe breathing night, 
All now have issued into the light. 

But look ! how spreadeth on nimble feet 
Through garden and field the joyous throng, 
How o’er the river’s ample sheet, 

Many a gay wherry glides along : 

And see, deep sinking in the tide, 

Pushes the last boat now away. 

E’en from yon far hill’s path-worn side 
Flash the bright hues of garments gay. 

Hark I Sounds of village mirth arise ; 

This is the people’s paradise. 

Both great and small send up a cheer ; 

Here am I man, I feel it here. 

WAGNER. 

Sir Doctor, in a walk with you 


565 

570 

575 

580 

585 

590 


FAUST. 


47 


There’s honor and instruction too : 

Yet here alone I care not to resort, 595 

Because I coarseness hate of every sort. 

This fiddling, shouting, skittling, I detest ; 

I hate the tumult of the vulgar throng ; 

They roar as by the evil one possess’d, 

And call it pleasure, call it song. 600 

peasants ( under the linden-tree). 

Dance and song. 

The shepherd for the dance was dress’d, 

With ribbon, wreath, and colored vest, 

A gallant show displaying. 

And round about the linden-tree, 

They footed it right merrily. 605 

Juchhe ! Juchhe ! 

Juchheisa ! Heisa ! He ! 

So fiddle-bow was braying. 

Our swain amidst the circle press’d, 

He push’d a maiden trimly dress’d, 610 

And jogg’d her with his elbow ; 

The buxom damsel turn’d her head, 

“Now that’s a stupid trick l” she said. 

Juchhe ! Juchhe ! 

Juchheisa! Heisa! He! 615 

Don’t be so rude, good fellow ! 

Swift in the circle they advance, 

They dance to right, to left they dance, 

The skirts abroad are swinging. 

And they grow red, and they grow warm, 620 

Elbow on hip, they arm in arm, 

Juchhe ! Juchhe ! 

Juchheisa! Heisa! He! 

Best, talking now or singing. 


48 


FAUST. 


Don’t make so free ! How many a maid 
Has been betroth’d and then betray’d, 

And has repented after ! 

Yet still he flatter’d her aside, 

And from the linden, far and wide, 

Juchhe ! Juchhe 1 
Juchheisa ! Heisa ! He ! 

Sound fiddle-bow and laughter. 

OLD PEASANT. 

Doctor, ’tis really kind of you 
To condescend to come this way, 

A highly-learned man like you 635 

To join our mirthful throng to-day. 

Our fairest cup I offer you, 

Which we with sparkling drink have crown’d, 

And pledging you, I pray aloud, 

That every drop within its round, 640 

While it your present thirst allays, 

May swell the number of your days. 

FAUST. 

1 take the cup you kindly reach, 

Thanks and prosperity to each 1 

{The crowd gather round in a circle . ) 

OLD PEASANT. 

Ay, truly ! ’tis well done, that you 645 

Our festive meeting thus attend ; 

You, who in evil days of yore, 

So often show’d yourself our friend ! 

Full many a one stands living here, 

Who from the fever’s deadly blast 


625 


630 


650 


FAUST. 


49 


Your father rescu’d, when his skill 
The fatal sickness stay’d at last. 

A young man then, each house you sought, 

Where reign’d the mortal pestilence. 

Corpse after corpse was carried forth, 655 

But still unscath’d you issued thence. 

Sore then your trials and severe ; 

The Helper yonder aids the helper here. 

ALL. 

Heaven bless the trusty friend, and long 

To help the poor his life prolong ! 660 

FAUST. 

To Him above in homage bend, 

Who prompts the helper and Who help doth send. 

{He proceeds with Wagner. ) 

WAGNER. 

With what emotions must your heart o’erflow, 

Receiving thus the reverence of the crowd ! 

Great man ! How happy, who like you doth know 665 
Such use for gifts by heaven bestow’d ! 

You to the son the father shows ; 

They press around, inquire, advance, 

Hush’d is the fiddle, check’d the dance. 

Still where you pass they stand in rows, 670 

And each aloft his bonnet throws, 

They fall upon their knees, almost 
As when there passeth by the Host. 

FAUST. 

A few steps further, up to yonder stone ! 

3 


50 


FAUST. 


Here rest we from our walk. In times long past, 
Absorb’d in thought, here oft I sat alone, 

And disciplin’d myself with prayer and fast. 

Then rich in hope, with faith sincere, 

With sighs, and hands in anguish press’d, 

The end of that sore plague, with many a tear, 

From heaven’s dread Lord, I sought to wrest. 

These praises have to me a scornful tone. 

Oh, could’st thou in my inner being read 
How little either sire or son 
Of such renown deserve the meed ! 

My sire, of good repute, and sombre mood, 

O’er nature’s powers and every mystic zone, 

With honest zeal, but methods of his own, 

With toil fantastic loved to brood ; 

His time in dark alchemic cell, 

With brother adepts he would spend, 

And there antagonists compel, 

Through numberless receipts to blend. 

A ruddy lion there, a suitor bold, 

In tepid bath was with the lily wed. 

Thence both, while open flames around them roll’d, 
Were tortur’d to another bridal bed. 

Was then the youthful queen descried 
With many a hue, to crown the task ; — 

This was our medicine ; the patients died, 

“ Who were restored ?” none cared to ask. 

With our infernal mixture thus, ere long, 

These hills and peaceful vales among, 

We rag’d more fiercely than the pest ; 

Myself the deadly poison did to thousands give • 
They pined away, I yet must live, 

To hear the reckless murderers blest. 


FAUST. 


5i 


WAGNER. 

Why let this thought your soul o’ercast? 

Can man do more than with nice skill, 

With firm and conscientious will, 710 

Practise the art transmitted from the past ? 

If duly you revere your sire in youth, 

His lore you gladly will receive ; 

In manhood, if you spread the bounds of truth, 

Then may your son a higher goal achieve. 715 

FAUST. 

O blest, whom still the hope inspires, 

To lift himself from error’s turbid flood 1 
What a man knows not, he to use requires, 

And what he knows, he cannot use for good. 

But let not moody thoughts their shadow throw 720 

O’er the calm beauty of this hour serene ! 

In the rich sunset see how brightly glow 

Yon cottage homes, girt round with verdant green ! 

Slow sinks the orb, the day is now no more ; 

Yonder he hastens to diffuse new life. 725 

Oh for a pinion from the earth to soar, 

And after, ever after him to strive ! 

Then should I see the world below, 

Bathed in the deathless evening-beams, 

The vales reposing, every height a glow, 730 

The silver brooklets meeting golden streams. 

The savage mountain, with its cavern’d side, 

Bars not my godlike progress. Lo, the ocean, 

Its warm bays heaving with a tranquil motion, 

To my rapt vision opes its ample tide ! 

But now at length the god appears to sink ; 

A new-born impulse wings my flight, 


735 


52 


FAUST. 


Onward I press, his quenchless light to drink. 

The day before me, and behind the night, 

The pathless waves beneath, and over me the skies. 
Fair dream, it vanish’d with the parting day ! 

Alas I that when on spirit-wing we rise, 

No wing material lifts our mortal clay. 

But ’tis our inborn impulse, deep and strong, 
Upwards and onwards still to urge our flight, 

When far above us pours its thrilling song. 

The skylark, lost in azure light, 

When on extended wing amain 

O’er pine-crown’ d height the eagle soars, 

And over moor and lake, the crane 
Still strivetli towards its native shores. 

WAGNER. 

To strange conceits oft I myself must own, 

But impulse such as this I ne’er have known : 

Nor woods, nor fields, can long our thoughts engage, 
Their wings I envy not the feather’d kind ; 

Far otherwise the pleasures of the mind, 

Bear us from book to book, from page to page ! 

Then winter nights grow cheerful ; keen delight 
Warms every limb ; and ah ! when we unroll 
Some old and precious parchment, at the sight 
All heaven itself descends upon the soul. 

FAUST. 

Your heart by one sole impulse is possess'd ; 
Unconscious of the other still remain ! 

Two souls, alas 1 are lodg’d within my breast, 

Which struggle there for undivided reign : 

One to the world, with obstinate desire, 


740 

745 

750 

755 

760 

765 


FAUST. 


53 


And closely cleaving organs, still adheres ; 

Above the mist, the other doth aspire, 

With sacred vehemence, to purer spheres. 

Oh, are there spirits in the air, 

Who float ’twixt heaven and earth dominion wielding, 
Stoop hither from your golden atmosphere, 

Lead me to scenes, new life and fuller yielding ! 

A magic mantle did I but possess, 

Abroad to waft me as on viewless wings, 

I’d prize it far beyond the costliest dress, 

Nor would I change it for the robe of kings. 

WAGNER. 

Call not the spirits who on mischief wait ! 

Their troop familiar, streaming through the air, 

From every quarter threaten man’s estate, 

And danger in a thousand forms prepare ! 

They drive impetuous from the frozen north, 

With fangs sharp-piercing, and keen arrowy tongues ; 
From the ungenial east they issue forth, 

And prey, with parching breath, upon your lungs ; 

If, wafted on the desert’s flaming wing, 

They from the south heap fire upon the brain, 
Refreshment from the west at first they bring, 

Anon to drown thyself and field and plain. 

In wait for mischief, they are prompt to hear ; 

With guileful purpose our behests obey ; 

Like ministers of grace they oft appear, 

And lisp like angels, to betray. 

But let us hence ! Grey eve doth all things blend, 
The air grows chill, the mists descend ! 

’Tis in the evening first our home we prize — 

Why stand you thus, and gaze with wondering eyes? 
What in the gloom thus moves you ? 


770 

775 

780 

785 

790 

795 


54 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Yon black hound 

See’st thou, through corn and stubble scampering round? 
WAGNER. 

I’ve mark'd him long, naught strange in him I see ! 800 

FAUST. 

Note him ! What takest thou the brute to be ? 

WAGNER. 

But for a poodle, whom his instinct serves 
His master’s track to find once more. 

FAUST. 

Dost mark how round us, with wide spiral curves, 

He wheels, each circle closer than before ? 805 

And, if I err not, he appears to me 
A fiery whirlpool in his track to leave. 

WAGNER. 

Naught but a poodle black of hue I see ; 

’Tis some illusion doth your sight deceive. 

FAUST. 

Methinks a magic coil our feet around, 810 

He for a future snare doth lightly spread. 

WAGNER. 

Around us as in doubt I see him shyly bound, 

Since he two strangers seeth in his master’s stead. 

FAUST. 

The circle narrows, he’s already near 1 


FAUST. 


55 


WAGNER. 

A dog dost see, no spectre have we here ; 815 

He growls, doubts, lays him on his belly, too, 

And wags his tail — as dogs are wont to do. 

FAUST. 

Come hither, Sirrah I join our company ! 

WAGNER. 

A very poodle, he appears to be ! 

Thou standest still, for thee he’ll wait ; 820 

Thou speak’ st to him, he fawns upon thee straight ; 

Aught you may lose, again he’ll bring. 

And for your stick will into water spring. 

FAUST. 

Thou’rt right indeed ; no traces now I see 

Whatever of a spirit’s agency. 825 

’Tis training— nothing more. 

WAGNER. 

A dog well taught 

E’en by the wisest of us may be sought. 

Ay, to your favor he’s entitled, too, 

Apt scholar of the students, ’tis his due ! 

( They enter the gate of the town.) 

Study. 

Faust, ( entering with the poodle). 
Behind me now lie field and plain, 830 

As night her veil doth o’er them draw, 

Our better soul resumes her reign 
With feelings of foreboding awe. 

Lull’d is each stormy deed to rest, 


56 


FAUST. 


And tranquilliz’d each wild desire ; 

Pure charity doth warm the breast, 

And love to God the soul inspire. 

Peace, poodle, peace ! Scamper not thus ; obey me ! 
Why at the threshold snuffest thou so? 

Behind the stove now quietly lay thee, 

My softest cushion to thee I'll throw. 

As thou, without, didst please and amuse me, 
Running and frisking about on the hill, 

Neither shelter will I refuse thee ; 

A welcome guest, if thou’ It be still. 

Ah ! when within our narrow room, 

The friendly lamp again doth glow, 

An inward light dispels the gloom 
In hearts that strive themselves to know. 

Reason begins again to speak, 

Again the bloom of hope returns, 

The streams of life we fain would seek, 

Ah, for life’s source our spirit yearns. 

Cease, poodle, cease ! with the tone that arises, 
Hallow’d and peaceful, my soul within, 

Accords not thy growl, thy bestial din. 

We find it not strange, that man despises 
What he conceives not ; 

The good and the fair he misprizes ; 

What lies beyond him he doth contemn ; 

Snarleth the poodle at it, like men? 

But ah ! E’en now I feel, howe’er I yearn for rest, 
Contentment welleth up no longer in my breast. 

Yet wherefore must the stream, alas, so soon be dry, 
That we once more athirst should lie ? 


835 

840 

845 

850 

855 

860 

865 


FAUST. 


57 


This sad experience oft I’ve approv’d ! 

The want admitteth of compensation ; 

We learn to prize what from sense is remov’d, 

Our spirits yearn for revelation, 

Which nowhere burneth with beauty blent, 870 

More pure than in the New Testament. 

To the ancient text an impulse strong 
Moves me the volume to explore, 

And to translate its sacred lore, 

Into the tones belovod of the German tongue. 875 

{He opens a volume , and applies himself to it. ) 
’Tis writ, 11 In the beginning was the Word !” 

I pause, perplex’d ! Who now will help afford ? 

I cannot the mere Word so highly prize ; 

I must translate it otherwise, 

If by the spirit guided as I read. 880 

“In the beginning was the Sense !” Take heed, 

The import of this primal sentence weigh, 

Lest thy too hasty pen be led astray ! 

Is force creative then of Sense the dower ? 

“ In the beginning was the Power !” 885 

Thus should it stand : yet, while the line I trace, 

A something warns me, once more to efface. 

The spirit aids ! from anxious scruples freed, 

I write, “ In the beginning was the Deed !” 

Am I with thee my room to share, 

Poodle, thy barking now forbear, 

Forbear thy howling ! 

Comrade so noisy, ever growling, 

I cannot suffer here to dwell. 

One or the other, mark me well, 

Forthwith must leave the cell. 

3 * 


890 


895 


58 


FAUST. 


I’m loath the guest- right to withhold ; 

The door’s ajar, the passage clear ; 

But what must now mine eves behold ! 

Are nature’s laws suspended here? 

Keal is it, or a phantom show ? 

In length and breadth how doth my poodle grow ! 
He lifts himself with threat’ning mien, 

In likeness of a dog no longer seen ! 

What spectre have I harbor’d thus 1 
Huge as a hippopotamus, 

With fiery eye, terrific tooth ! 

Ah ! now I know thee, sure enough ! 

For such a base, half-hellish brood, 

The key of Solomon is good. 

spirits {without). 

Captur’d there within is one ! 

Stay without and follow none ! 

Like a fox in iron snare, 

Hell’s old lynx is quaking there, 

But take heed ! 

Hover round, above, below, 

To and fro, 

Then from durance is he freed ! 

Can ye aid him, spirits all, 

Leave him not in mortal thrall 1 
Many a time and oft hath he 
Served us, when at liberty. 

FAUST. 

The monster to confront, at first, 

The spell of Four must be rehears’d ; 

Salamander shall kindle, 


900 

905 

910 

915 

920 

925 


FAUST. 


59 


Writhe nymph of the wave, 

In air sylph shall dwindle, 

And Kobold shall slave. 

Who doth ignore 

The primal Four, 930 

Nor knows aright 
Their use and might, 

O’er spirits will he 
Ne’er master be ! 

Vanish in the fiery glow, 

Salamander ! 

Rushingly together flow, 

Undine ! 

Shimmer in the meteor’s gleam, 

Sylphide ! 

Hither bring thine homely aid, 

Incubus ! Incubus ! 

Step forth ! I do adjure thee thus ! 

None of the Four 
Lurks in the beast : 945 

He grins at me, untroubled as before ; 

I have not hurt him in the least. 

A spell of fear 
Thou now shalt hear. 

Art thou, comrade fell, 950 

Fugitive from Hell ? 

See then this sign, 

Before which incline 
The murky troops of Hell ! 

With bristling hair now doth the creature swell. 


935 


940 


955 


6o 


FAUST. 


Canst thou, reprobate, 

Read the uncreate, 

Unspeakable, diffused 
Throughout the heavenly sphere, 

Shamefully abused, 960 

Transpierced with nail and spear ! 

Behind the stove, tam’d by my spells, 

Like an elephant he swells ; 

Wholly now he fills the room, 

He into mist will melt away. 965 

Ascend not to the ceiling ! Come, 

Thyself at the master’s feet now lay ! 

Thou seest that mine is no idle threat. 

With holy fire I will scorch thee yet 1 

Wait not the might 970 

That lies in the triple-glowing light ! 

Wait not the might 

Of all my arts in fullest measure ! 

. MEPHISTOPHELES. 

(-4s the mist sinks, comes forward from behind the 
stove , in the dress of a travelling scholar. ) 

Why all this uproar? What’s the master’s pleasure? 

FAUST. 

This then the kernel of the brute 1 975 

A travelling scholar ? Why I needs must smile. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Your learned reverence humbly I salute ! 

You’ve made me swelter in a pretty style. 


Thy name ? 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 


61 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

The question trifling seems from one 
Who it appears the Word doth rate so low ; 980 

Who, undeluded by mere outward show, 

To Being’s depths would penetrate alone. 

FAUST. 

With gentlemen like you indeed 

The inward essence from the name we read, 

As all too plainly it doth appear, 985 

When Beelzebub, Destroyer, Liar, meets the ear. 

Who then art thou ? 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Part of that power which still 
Producetli good, whilst ever scheming ill. 

FAUST. 

What hidden mystery in this riddle lies ? 

990 


995 

FAUST. 

Thou nam’st thyself a part, and yet a whole I see. 

MEPHISTOPHELES . 

The modest truth I speak to thee. 

Though folly’s microcosm, man, it seems, 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

The spirit I, which evermore denies 1 
And justly ; for whate’er to light is brought 
Deserves again to be reduced to naught ; 
Then better ’twere that naught should be. 
Thus all the elements which ye 
Destruction, Sin, or briefly, Evil, name, 

As my peculiar element I claim. 


62 


FAUST. 


Himself to be a perfect whole esteems, 1000 

Part of the part am I, which at the first was all. 

A part of darkness, which gave birth to light. 

Proud light, who now his mother would enthrall, 

Contesting space and ancient rank with night. 

Yet he succeedeth not, for struggle as he will, 1005 

To forms material he adhereth still ; 

From them he streameth, them he maketh fair. 

And still the progress of his beams they check ; 

And so, I trust, when comes the final wreck, 

Light will, ere long, the doom of matter share. 1010 

FAUST. 

Thy worthy avocation now I guess ! 

Wholesale annihilation won’t prevail, 

So thou’ rt beginning on a smaller scale. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And, to say truth, as yet with small success. 

Oppos’d to nothingness, the world, 1015 

This clumsy mass, subsisteth still ; 

Not yet is it to ruin hurl’d, 

Despite the efforts of my will. 

Tempests and earthquakes, fire and flood, I’ve tried ; 

Yet land and ocean still unchang’d abide ! 1020 

And then of humankind and beasts, the accursed brood, — 
Neither o’er them can I extend my sway. 

. What countless myriads have I swept away ! 

Yet ever circulates the fresh young blood. 

It is enough to drive me to despair ! 1025 

As in the earth, in water, and in air, 

In moisture and in drought, in heat and cold, 

Thousands of germs their energies unfold ! 


FAUST. 


63 


If fire I had not for myself retain’d, 

No sphere whatever had for me remain’d. 

FAUST. 

So thou with thy cold devil’s fist, 

Still clench’d in malice impotent, 

Dost the creative power resist, 

The active, the beneficent ! 

Henceforth some other task essay, 

Of Chaos thou the wondrous son ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

We will consider what you say, 

And talk about it more anon I 
For this time have I leave to go? 

FAUST. 

Why thou shouldst ask, I cannot see. 

Since one another now we know, 

At thy good pleasure, visit me. 

Here is the window, here the door, 

The chimney, too, may serve thy need. 

MEPHISTOPH ELES. 

I must confess, my stepping o’er 

Thy threshold a slight hindrance doth impede ; 

The wizard-foot doth me retain. 

FAUST. 

The pentagram thy peace doth mar? 

To me, thou son of hell, explain, 

How earnest thou in, if this thine exit bar ? 
Could such a spirit aught ensnare ? 


1030 


1035 


1040 


1045 


1050 


6 4 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Observe it well, it is not drawn with care. 

One of the angles, that which points without, 

Is, as thou seest, not quite closed. 

FAUST. 

Chance hath the matter happily dispos’d ! 1055 

So thou my captive art ? No doubt ! 

By accident thou thus art caught ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

In sprang the dog, indeed, observing naught ; 

Things now assume another shape. 

The devil’s in the house and can’t escape. 1060 

FAUST. 

Why through the window not withdraw ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

For ghosts and for the devil ’tis a law, 

Where they stole in, there they must forth. We’re free 
The first to choose ; as to the second, slaves are we. 

FAUST. 

E’en hell hath its peculiar laws, I see ! 1065 

I’m -glad of that ! a pact may then be made, 

The which you gentlemen will surely keep ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Whate’er therein is promised thou shalt reap, 

No tittle shall remain unpaid. 

But such arrangements time require ; 1070 

We’ll speak of them when next we meet ; 

Most earnestly I now entreat, 

This once permission to retire. 


FAUST. 


65 


FAUST. 

Another moment prithee here remain, 

Me with some happy word to pleasure. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Now let me go ! ere long I’ll come again, 

Then thou may’st question at thy leisure. 

FAUST. 

To capture thee was not my will. 

Thyself hast freely entered in the snare : 

Let him who holds the devil hold him still ! 

A second time so soon he will not catch him there. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

If it so please thee, I’m at thy command ; 

Only on this condition, understand ; 

That worthily thy leisure to beguile, 

I here may exercise my arts awhile. 

FAUST. 

Thou’rt free to do so ! Gladly I’ll attend ; 

But be thine art a pleasant one ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

My friend, 

This hour enjoyment more intense, 

Shall captivate each ravish’d sense 
Than thou could’ st compass in the bound 
Of the whole year’s unvarying round ; 

And what the dainty spirits sing, 

The lovely images they bring, 

Are no fantastic sorcery. 

Rich odors shall regale your smell, 


1075 


1080 


1085 


1090 


1095 


66 


FAUST. 


On choicest sweets your palate dwell, 

Your feelings thrill with ecstasy. 

No preparation do we need, 

Here we together are. Proceed. 

SPIRITS. 

Hence overshadowing gloom 
Vanish from sight ! 

O’er us thine azure dome, 

Bend, beauteous light ! 

Dark clouds that o’er us spread, 
Melt in thin air ! 

Stars, your soft radiance shed, 
Tender and fair. 

Girt with celestial might, 
Winging their airy flight, 
Spirits are thronging. 

Follows their forms of light 
Infinite longing ! 

Flutter their vestures bright 
O’er field and grove ! 

Where in their leafy bower 
Lovers the livelong hour 
Vow deathless love. 

Soft bloometh bud and bower ! 
Bloometh the grove ! 

Grapes from the spreading vine 
Crown the full measure ; 
Fountains of foaming wine 
Gush from the pressure. 

Still where the currents wind, 
Gems brightly gleam. 

Leaving the hills behind 


FAUST. 


67 


On rolls the stream ; 

Now into ample seas, 

Spreadeth the flood ; 

Laving the sunny leas, 1130 

Mantled with wood. 

Rapture the feather’d throng, 

Gaily careering, 

Sip as they float along ; 

Sunward they’re steering ; 1135 

On towards the isles of light 
Winging their way, 

That on the waters bright 
Dancingly play. 

Hark to the choral strain, 1140 

Joyfully ringing ! 

While on the grassy plain 
Dancers are springing ; 

Climbing the steep hill’s side, 

Skimming. the glassy tide, 1145 

Wander they there ; 

Others on pinions wide 
Wing the blue air ; 

On towards the living stream, 

Towards yonder stars that gleam, 1150 

Far, far away ; 

Seeking their tender beam 
Wing they their way. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Well done, my dainty spirits ! now he slumbers ; 

Ye have entranc’d him fairly with your numbers ; 1155 

This minstrelsy of yours I must repay. — 

Thou art not yet the man to hold the devil fast ! — 


68 


FAUST. 


With fairest shapes your spells around him cast, 

And plunge him in a sea of dreams ! 

But that this charm be rent, the threshold passed 1160 
Tooth of rat the way must clear. 

I need not conjure long, it seems, 

One rustles hitherward, and soon my voice will hear. 

The master of the rats and mice, 

Of flies and frogs, of bugs and lice, 

Commands thy presence ; without fear 
Come forth and gnaw the threshold here, 

Where he with oil has smear’d it. — Thou 
Com’st hopping forth already ! Now 
To work ! The point that holds me bound 
Is in the outer angle found. 

Another bite — so — now ’tis done — 

Now, Faustus, till we meet again, dream on. 

faust (awaking). 

Am I once more deluded ! must I deem 
This troop of thronging spirits all ideal? 1175 

The devil’s presence, was it nothing real ? 

The poodle’s disappearance but a dream? 

Study. 

Faust, Mephistopheles. 
faust. 

A knock ? Come in ! Who now would break my rest ? 
MEPHISTOPHELES. 

’Tis I ! 


1165 


1170 


Come in I 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 


69 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Thrice be the words express’d. 

FAUST. 

Then I repeat, Come in ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

’Tis well, 

I hope that we shall soon agree ! 

For now your fancies to expel, 

Here, as a youth of high degree, 

I come in gold -lac’d scarlet vest, 

And stiff-silk mantle richly dress’d, 

A cock’s gay feather for a plume, 

A long and pointed rapier, too ; 

And briefly I would counsel you 
To don at once the same costume, 

And, free from trammels, speed away, 

That what life is you may essay. 

FAUST. 

In every garb I needs must feel oppress’d, 

My heart to earth’s low cares a prey. 

Too old the trifler’s part to play, 

Too young to live by no desire possess’d. 1195 

What can the world to me afford ? 

Renounce ! renounce ! is still the word ; 

This is the everlasting song 
In every ear that ceaseless rings, 

And which, alas, our whole life long, 1200 

Hoarsely each passing moment sings. 

But to new horror I awake each morn, 

And I could weep hot tears, to see the sun 


1180 


1185 


1190 


70 


FAUST. 


Dawn on another day, whose round forlorn 
Accomplishes no wish of mine — not one. 

Which still, with froward captiousness, impairs 
E’en the presentiment of every joy, 

While low realities and paltry cares 
The spirit’s fond imaginings destroy. 

And must I then, when falls the veil of night, 

Stretch’d on my pallet languish in despair ; 

Appalling dreams my soul affright ; 

No rest vouchsafed me even there. 

The god, who throned within my breast resides, 

Deep in my soul can stir the springs ; 

With sovereign sway my energies he guides, 

He cannot move external things ; 

And so existence is to me a weight, 

Death fondly I desire, and life I hate. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And yet, methinks, by most ’twill be confess’d 1220 

That Death is never quite a welcome guest. 

FAUST. 

Happy the man around whose brow he binds 

The blood-stain’ d wreath in conquest’s dazzling hour ; 

Or whom, excited by the dance, he finds 

Dissolv’d in bliss, in love’s delicious bower ! 1225 

O that before the lofty spirit’s might, 

Enraptured, I had rendered up my soul ! 

M EPHISTOPHEL ES. 

Yet did a certain man refrain one night, 

Of its brown juice to drain the crystal bowl. 

FAUST. 

To play the spy diverts you, then ? 


1205 


1210 


1215 


FAUST. 


7i 


MEPH I STOPH ELES. 

I own, 

Though not omniscient, much to me is known. 

FAUST. 

If o’er my soul the tone familiar, stealing, 

Drew me from harrowing thought’s bewild’ring maze, 
Touching the ling’ ring chords of childlike feeling, 
With the sweet harmonies of happier days ; 

So curse I all, around the soul that windeth 
Its magic and alluring spell, 

And with delusive flattery bindeth 
Its victim to this dreary cell ! 

Curs’d before all things be the high opinion, 
Wherewith the spirit girds itself around ! 

Of shows delusive curs’d be the dominion, 

Within whose mocking sphere our sense is bound ! 
Accurs’d of dreams the treacherous wiles, 

The cheat of glory, deathless fame ! 

Accurs’d what each as property beguiles, 

Wife, child, slave, plough, whate’er its name ! 
Accurs’d be mammon, when with treasure 
He doth to daring deeds incite ; 

Or when to steep the soul in pleasure, 

He spreads the couch of soft delight ! 

Curs’d be the grape’s balsamic juice ! 

Accurs’d love’s dream, of joys the first ! 

Accurs’d be hope ! accurs’d be faith ! 

And more than all, be patience curs’d ! 

chorus of spirits ( invisible ). 

Woe ! woe ! 

Thou hast destroy’d 


1230 


1235 


1240 


1245 


1250 


1255 * 


72 


FAUST. 


The beautiful world 
With violent blow ; 

’Tis shiver’d ! ’tis shatter’d 1 

The fragments abroad by a demigod scatter’d 

Now we sweep 

The wrecks into nothingness I 

Fondly we weep 

The beauty that’s gone ! 

Thou, ’mongst the sons of earth, 

Lofty and mighty one, 

Build it once more ! 

In thine own bosom the lost world restore ! 
Now with unclouded sense 
Enter a new career ; 

Songs shall salute thine ear, 

Ne’er heard before. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

My little ones these spirits be. 

Hark ! with shrewd intelligence, 

How they recommend to thee 
Action, and the joys of sense ! 

In the busy world to dwell, 

Fain they would allure thee hence : 

For within this lonely cell, 

Stagnate sap of life and sense. 

Forbear to trifle longer with thy grief, 

Which, vulture-like, consumes thee in this den. 
The worst society is some relief, 

Making thee feel thyself a man with men. 
Natliless it is not meant, I trow, 

To thrust thee ’mid the vulgar throng. 

I to the upper ranks do not belong ; 


FAUST. 


73 


Yet if, by me companion’d, thou 

Thy steps through life forthwith wilt take, 

Upon the spot myself I’ll make 
Thy comrade ; — 

Should it suit thy need, 

I am thy servant, am thy slave indeed ! 

FAUST. 

And how must I thy services repay ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Thereto thou lengthen’d respite hast ! 

FAUST. 

No ! no ! 

The devil is an egotist I know ; 

And, for Heaven’s sake, ’tis not his way 
Kindness to any one to show. 

Let the condition plainly be exprest ; 

Such a domestic is a dangerous guest. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’ll pledge myself to be thy servant here , 

Still at thy back alert and prompt to be ; 

But when together yonder we appear, 

Then shalt thou do the same for me. 

FAUST. 

But small concern I feel for yonder world ; 

Hast thou this system into ruin hurl’d, 

Another may arise the void to fill. 

This earth the fountain whence my pleasures flow, 
This sun doth daily shine upon my woe, 

And if this world I must forego, 

4 


1290 


1295 


1300 


1305 


1310 


74 


FAUST. 


Let happen then, — what can and will. 

I to this theme will close mine ears, 

If men hereafter hate and love, 

And if there be in yonder spheres 1315 

A depth below or height above. 

MEPHISTOPHEIjES. 

In this mood thou mavst venture it. But make 
The compact, and at once I’ll undertake 
To charm thee with mine arts. I’ll give thee more 
Than mortal eye hath e’er beheld before. 1320 

FAUST. 

What, sorry Devil, hast thou to bestow? 

Was ever mortal spirit, in its high endeavor, 

Fathom’d by Being such as thou ? 

Yet food thou hast which satisfieth never, 

Hast ruddy gold, that still doth flow 
Like restless quicksilver away, 

A game thou hast, at which none win who play, 

A girl who would, with amorous eyen, 

E’en from my breast, a neighbor snare, 

Lofty ambition’s joy divine, 

That, meteor-like, dissolves in air. 

Show me the fruit that, ere ’tis pluck’d, doth rot, 

And trees whose verdure daily buds anew. 

MEPH I STOPHELES. 

Such a commission scares me not, 

I can provide such treasures, it is true ; 1335 

But, my good friend, a season will come round, 

When on what’s good we may regale in peace. 


1325 


1330 


FAUST. 


75 


FAUST. 

If e’er upon my couch, stretched at my ease, 
Then may my life that instant cease ; 

Me canst thou cheat with glozing wile 
Till self-reproach away I cast? — 

Me with joy’s lure canst thou beguile? — 

Let that day be for me the last ! 

Be this our wager ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Settled ! 


FAUST. 

Sure and fast ! 

When to the moment I shall say, 

“Linger awhile, so fair thou art !” 

Then mayst thou fetter me straightway, 
Then to the abyss will I depart ; 

Then may the solemn death-bell sound, 
Then from thy service thou art free, 

The index then may cease its round, 

And time be never more for me ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I shall remember ; pause, ere ’tis too late. 

FAUST. 

Thereto a perfect right hast thou, 

My strength I do not rashly overrate. 

Slave am I here, at any rate, 

If thine, or whose, it matters not, I trow. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

At thine inaugural feast I will this day 


I’m found, 

1340 

1345 

1350 

1355 


76 


FAUST. 


Attend, my duties to commence. — 

But one thing ! — Accidents may happen, hence 1360 

A line or two in writing grant, I pray. 

FAUST. 

A writing, Pedant ! dost demand from me ? 

Man, and man’s plighted word, are these unknown to thee ? 
Is’t not enough, that by the word I gave, 

My doom for evermore is cast ? 1365 

Doth not the world in all its currents rave, 

And must a promise hold me fast? 

Yet fixed is this delusion in our heart ; 

- Who, of his own free will, therefrom would part ? 

How blest within whose breast truth reigneth pure 1 1370 

No sacrifice will he repent when made ! 

A formal deed, with seal and signature, 

A spectre this from which all shrink afraid. 

The word its life resigneth in the pen, 

Leather and wax usurp the mastery then. 1375 

Spirit of evil ! what dost thou require ? 

Brass, marble, parchment, paper, dost desire? 

Shall I with chisel, pen, or graver write ? 

Thy choice is free ; to me ’tis all the same. 

MEPH1STOPHELES. 

Wherefore thy passion so excite, 1380 

And thus thine eloquence inflame? 

A scrap is for our compact good. 

Thou under-signest merely with a drop of blood. 

FAUST. 

If this will satisfy thy mind, 

Thy whim I’ll gratify, howe’er absurd. 


1385 


FAUST. 


77 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Blood is a juice of very special kind. 

FAUST. 

Be not afraid that I shall break my word ! 
The scope of all my energy 
Is in exact accordance with my vow. 
Vainly I have aspired too high ; 

I’m on a level but with such as thou ; 

Me the great spirit scorn’d, defied ; 

Nature from me herself doth hide ; 

Rent is the web of thought ; my mind 
Doth knowledge loathe of every kind. 

In depths of sensual pleasure drown’d, 

Let us our fiery passions still ! 

Enwrapp’d in magic’s veil profound, 

Let wondrous charms our senses thrill ! 
Plunge we in time’s tempestuous flow, 

Stem we the rolling surge of chance ! 

There may alternate weal and woe, 

Success and failure, as they can, 

Mingle and shift in changeful dance ! 
Excitement is the sphere for man. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Nor goal, nor measure is prescrib’d to you. 
If you desire to taste of every thing, 

To snatch at joy while on the wing, 

May your career amuse and profit too ! 
Only fall to and don’t be over coy ! 

FAUST. 

Hearken ! , The end I aim at is not joy ; 

I crave excitement, agonizing bliss, 


1390 


1395 


1400 


1405 


1410 


78 


FAUST. 


Enamor’d hatred, quickening vexation. 

Purg’d from the love of knowledge, my vocation, 

The scope of all my powers henceforth be this, 1415 

To bare my breast to every pang, — to know 
In my heart’s core all human weal and woe, 

To grasp in thought the lofty and the deep, 

Men’s various fortunes on my breast to heap, 

And thus to theirs dilate my individual mind, 1420 

And share at length with them the shipwreck of mankind. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Oh, credit me, who still as ages roll, 

Have chew'd this bitter fare from year to year, 

No mortal, from the cradle to the bier, 

Digests the ancient leaven ! Know, this Whole 1425 

Doth for the Deity alone subsist ! 

He in eternal brightness doth exist, 

Us unto darkness he hath brought, and here 
Where day and night alternate, is your sphere. 

FAUST. 

But ’ tis my will ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Well spoken, I admit ! 1430 

But one thing puzzles me, my friend ; 

Time’s short, art long ; methinks ’twere fit 
That you to friendly counsel should attend. 

A poet choose as your ally ! 

Let him thought’s wide dominion sweep, 1435 

Each good and noble quality, 

Upon your honored brow to heap ; 

The lion’s magnanimity, 

The fleetness of the hind, 


FAUST. 


79 


The fiery blood of Italy, 1440 

The Northern’s steadfast mind ! 

Let him to you the mystery show 
To blend high aims and cunning low ; 

And while youth’s passions are aflame 

To fall in love by rule and plan ! 1445 

I fain would meet with such a man ; 

Would him Sir Microcosmus name. 

FAUST. 

What then am I, if I aspire in vain 
The crown of our humanity to gain, 

Towards which my every sense doth strain? 1450 

M EPHISTOPHELES. 

Thou’rt after all — just what thou art. 

Put on thy head a wig with countless locks, 

Raise to a cubit’s height thy learned socks, 

Still thou remainest ever, what thou art. 

FAUST. 

I feel it, I have heap’d upon my brain 1455 

The gather’d treasure of man’s thought in vain 
And when at length from studious toil I rest, 

No power, new-born, springs up within my breast, 

A hair’s breadth is not added to my height 
I am no nearer to the infinite. 1460 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Good Sir, those things you view indeed 
Just as by other men they’re view’d ; 

We must more cleverly proceed, 

Before life’s joys our grasp elude. 

The devil ! thou hast hands and feet, 


1465 


8o 


FAUST. 


And head and heart are also thine ; 

What I enjoy with relish sweet, 

Is it on that account less mine ? 

If for six stallions I can pay, 

Do I not own their strength and speed ? 

A proper man I dash away, 

As their two dozen legs were mine indeed. 

Up then, from idle pondering free, 

And forth into the world with me ! 

I tell you what ; — your speculative churl 
Is like a beast which some ill spirit leads 
On barren wilderness, in ceaseless whirl, 

While all around lie fair and verdant meads. 

FAUST. 

But how shall we begin ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

We will go hence with speed, 

A place of torment this indeed ! 1480 

A precious life, thyself to bore, 

And some few youngsters evermore ! 

Leave it to neighbor Paunch withdraw, 

Why wilt thou plague thyself with thrashing straw ? 

The very best that thou dost know 1485 

Thou dar’st not to the striplings show. 

One in the passage now doth wait ! 

FAUST. 

I’m in no mood to see him now. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Poor lad ! He must be tired, I trow ; 

He must not go disconsolate. 


1470 


1475 


1490 


FAUST. 


8 1 


Hand me thy cap and gown ; the mask 
Is for my purpose quite first rate. 

(He changes his dress.) 

Now leave it to my wit ! I ask 

But quarter of an hour ; meanwhile equip, 

And make all ready for our pleasant trip ! 1495 

(Exit Faust.) 

mephistopheles (in Faust’s long gown). 

Mortal ! the loftiest attributes of men, 

Reason and Knowledge, only thus contemn, 

Still let the Prince of lies, without control, 

With shows, and mocking charms delude thy soul, 

I have thee unconditionally then ! — 1500 

Fate hath endow’d him with an ardent mind, 

W r hich unrestrain’d still presses on for ever, 

And whose precipitate endeavor 

Earth’s joys o’erleaping, leaveth them behind. 

Him will I drag through life’s wild waste, 1505 

Through scenes of vapid dulness, where at last 
Bewilder'd, he shall falter, and stick fast ; 

And, still to mock his greedy haste, 

Viands and drink shall float his craving lips beyond — 
Vainly he’ll seek refreshment, anguish-tost, 1510 

And were he not the devil’s by his bond, 

Yet must his soul infallibly be lost ! 

A Student enters. 

STUDENT. 

But recently I’ve quitted home, 

Full of devotion am I come 
A man to know and hear, whose name 
With reverence is known to fame. 

4* 


1515 


82 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Your courtesy much flatters me ! 

A man like other men you see ; 

Pray have you yet applied elsewhere ? 

STUDENT. 

I would entreat your friendly care ! 

I’ve youthful blood and courage high ; 

Of gold I bring a fair supply ; 

To let me go my mother was not fain ; 

But here I longed true knowledge to attain. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 
You’ve hit upon the very place. 

STUDENT. 

And yet my steps I would retrace. 

These walls, this melancholy room, 

O'erpower me with a sense of gloom ; 

The space is narrow, nothing green, 

No friendly tree is to be seen ; 

And in these halls, with benches lined, 

Sight, hearing fail, fails too my mind. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

It all depends on habit. Thus at first 
The infant takes not kindly to the breast, 

But before long, its eager thirst 
Is fain to slake with hearty zest ; 

Thus at the breasts of wisdom day by day 
With keener relish you’ll your tliiist allay. 

STUDENT. 

Upon her neck I fain would hang with joy ; 
To reach it, say, what means must I employ ? 


1520 


1525 


1530 


1535 


1540 


FAUST. 


83 


MEPH ISTOPH EL ES. 

Explain, ere further time we lose, 

What special faculty you choose ? 

t 

STUDENT. 

Profoundly learned I would grow, 

What heaven contains would comprehend, 
O’er earth’s wide realm my gaze extend, 
Nature and science I desire to know. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

You are upon the proper track, I find, 

Take heed, let nothing dissipate your mind. 

STUDENT. 

My heart and soul are in the chase ! 
Though to be sure I fain would seize, 

On pleasant summer holidays, 

A little liberty and careless ease. 

M EPHISTOPHELES. 

Use well your time, so rapidly it flies ; 
Method will teach you time to win ; 

Hence, my young friend, I would advise, 
With college logic to begin ! 

Then will your mind be so well braced, 

In Spanish boots so tightly laced, 

That on ’twill circumspectly creep, 
Thought’s beaten track securely keep, 

Nor will it, ignis-fatuus like, 

Into the path of error strike. 

Then many a day they’ll teach you how 
The mind spontaneous acts, till now 
As eating and as drinking free, 


1545 


1550 


1555 


1560 


1565 


8 4 


FAUST. 


Require a process ; — one ! two ! three ! 

In truth the subtle web of thought 
Is like the weaver’s fabric wrought : 

One treadle moves a thousand lines, 

Swift dart the shuttles to and fro, 

Unseen the threads together flow, 

A thousand knots one stroke combines. 

Then forward steps your sage to show, 

And prove to you, it must be so ; 

The first being so, and so the second, 

The third and fourth deduc’d we see ; 

And if there were no first and second, 

Nor third nor fourth would ever be. 

This, scholars of all countries prize, — 

Yet ’mong themselves no weavers rise. 

He who would know and treat of aught alive, 
Seeks first the living spirit thence to drive : 
Then are the lifeless fragments in his hand, 
There only fails, alas ! the spirit-band. 

This process chemists name, in learned thesis, 
Mocking themselves, Natures encheiresis. 

STUDENT. 

Your words I cannot fully comprehend. 

M EPH ISTOPHELES. 

In a short time you will improve, my friend, 
When of scholastic forms you learn the use ; 
And how by method all things to reduce. 

STUDENT. 

So doth all this my brain confound, 

As if a mill-wheel there were turning round. 


FAUST. 


85 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And next, before aught else you learn, 

You must with zeal to metaphysics turn ! 

There see that you profoundly comprehend 
What doth the limit of man’s brain transcend ; 
For that which is or is not in the head 
A sounding phrase will serve you in good stead. 
But before all strive this half year 
From one fix’d order ne’er to swerve ! 

Five lectures daily you must hear ; 

The hour still punctually observe ! 

Yourself with studious zeal prepare, 

And closely in your manual look, 

Hereby may you be quite aware 
That all he utters standeth in the book ; 

Yet write away without cessation, 

As at the Holy Ghost’s dictation ! 

STUDENT. 

This, Sir, a second time you need not say 1 
Your counsel I appreciate quite ; 

What we possess in black and white, 

We can in peace and comfort bear away. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A faculty I pray you name. 

STUDENT. 

For jurisprudence some distaste I own. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

To me this branch of science is well known, 

And hence I cannot your repugnance blame. 


1595 


1600 


1605 


1610 


1615 


86 


FAUST. 


Customs and laws in every place, 

Like a disease, an heir-loom dread, 

Still trail their curse from race to race, 

And furtively abroad they spread. 

To nonsense, reason’s self they turn ; 
Beneficence becomes a pest ; 

Woe unto thee, that tliou’rt a grandson born ! 
As for the law born with us, unexpressed ; — 
That law, alas, none careth to discern. 

STUDENT. 

You deepen my dislike. The youth 
"Whom you instruct, is blest in sooth. 

To try theology I feel inclined. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I would not lead you willingly astray, 

But as regards this science, you will find, 

So hard it is to shun the erring way, 

And so much hidden poison lies therein, 

Which scarce can you discern from medicine. 
Here, too, it is the best to listen but to one, 

And by the master’s words to swear alone. 

To sum up all — To words hold fast ! 

Then the safe gate securely pass’d, 

You’ll reach the fane of certainty at last. 

STUDENT. 

But then some meaning must the words convey. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Eight ! But o’er-anxious thought you'll find of 
For there precisely where ideas fail, 

A word comes opportunely into play. 


1620 


1625 


1630 


1635 


no avail, 

1640 


FAUST. 


87 


Most admirable weapons words are found, 

On words a system we securely ground, 

In words we can conveniently believe, 1645 

Nor of a single jot can we a word bereave. 

STUDENT. 

Your pardon for my importunity ; 

Yet once more must I trouble you : 

On medicine, I’ll thank you to supply 
A pregnant utterance or two ! 1650 

Three years ! how brief the appointed tide ! 

The field, heaven knows, is all too wide ! 

If but a friendly hint be thrown, 

Tis easier than to feel one’s way. 

MEPHISTOPHELES (aside). 

I’m weary of the dry pedantic tone, 1655 

And must again the genuine devil play. 

(Aloud.) 

Of medicine the spirit’s caught with ease, 

The great and little world you study through, 

That things may then their course pursue, 

As heaven may please. 1660 

In vain abroad you range through science’s ample space, 
Each man learns only that which learn he can ; 

Who knows the moment to embrace, 

He is your proper man. 

In person you are tolerably made, 1665 

Nor in assurance will you be deficient : 

Self-confidence acquire, be not afraid, 

Others will then esteem you a proficient. 

Learn chiefly with the sex to deal ! 


88 


FAUST. 


Their thousand ahs and ohs, 

These the sage doctor knows, 

He only from one point can heal. 

Assume a decent tone of courteous ease, 

You have them then to humor as you please. 

First a diploma must belief infuse, 

That you in your profession take the lead : 

You then at once those easy freedoms use 
For which another many a year must plead ; 

Learn how to feel with nice address 
The dainty wrist ; — and how to press, 

With ardent furtive glance, the slender waist, 

To feel how tightly it is laced. 

STUDENT. 

There is some sense in that ! one sees the how and why. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Grey is, young friend, all theory : 

And green of life the golden tree. 1685 

STUDENT. 

I swear it seemeth like a dream to me. 

May I some future time repeat my visit, 

To hear on what your wisdom grounds your views ! 

M EPHISTOPH ELES. 

Command my humble service when you choose. 

STUDENT. 

Ere I retire, one boon I must solicit : 

Here is my album, do not, Sir, deny 
This token of your favor ! 


1670 


1675 


1680 


1690 


FAUST. 


89 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Willingly ! 

(He writes and returns the hook . ) 
student (reads). 

Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. 

(He reverently closes the book and retires . ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Let bat this ancient proverb be your rule, 

My cousin follow still, the wily snake, 1695 

And with your likeness to the gods, poor fool 
Ere long be sure your poor sick heart will quake ! 

faust (enters). 

Whither away ? 

MEPHISTOPH EL ES. 

’Tis thine our course to steer. 

The little world, and then the great we 11 view. 

With what delight, what profit too, 1700 

Thou’ It revel through thy gay career ! 

FAUST. 

Despite my length of beard I need 
The easy manners that insure success : 

Th’ attempt I fear can ne’er succeed ; 

To mingle in the world I want address ; 1705 

I still have an embarrass’d air, and then 
I feel myself so small with other men. 

MEPHISTOPH ELES. 

Time, my good friend, will all that’s needful give ; 

Be only self-possessed, and thou hast learn’ d to live. 


90 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

But how are we to start, I pray ? 

Steeds, servants, carriage, where are they? 1710 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

We’ve but to spread this mantle wide, 

’Twill serve whereon through air to ride, 

No heavy baggage need you take, 

When we our bold excursion make, 1715 

A little gas, which I will soon prepare, 

Lifts us from earth ; aloft through air, 

Light laden, we shall swiftly steer ; — 

I wish you joy of your new life-career. 

Auerbach's Cellar in Leipzig. 

(a drinking party.) 

FROSCH. 

No drinking? Naught a laugh to raise? 1720 

None of your gloomy looks, I pray ! 

You, who so bright were wont to blaze, 

Are dull as wetted straw to-day. 

BRANDER. 

’Tis all your fault ; your part you do not bear, 

No beastliness, no folly. 1725 

FROSCH. 

( pours a glass of wine over his head.) 
There, 

You have them both ! 


BRANDER. 

You double beast 1 


FAUST. 


9i 


FROSCH. 

’Tis what you ask’d me for, at least ! 

SIEBEL. 

Whoever quarrels, turn him out ! 

With open throat drink, roar, and shout. 

Hollo ! Hollo ! Ho ! 1730 


ALTMAYER. 

Zounds, fellow, cease your deaf’ ning cheers ! 
Bring cotton-wool ! He splits my ears. 


SIEBEL. 

’Tis when the roof rings hack the tone, 

Then first the full power of the bass is known. 

FROSCH. 

Right ! out with him who takes offence ! 

A tara lara la ! 


ALTMAYER. 

A tara lara la ! 

FROSCH. 

Our throats are tuned. Come let’s commence. 

(Sings . ) 

The holy Roman empire now, 
How holds it still together ? 


1735 


1740 


BRANDER. 

An ugly song ! a song political ! 

A song offensive ! Thank God, every morn 
To rule the Roman empire, that you were not born ! 

I bless my stars at least that mine is not 

Either a kaiser’s or a chancellor’s lot. 1745 


92 


FAUST. 


Yet ’mong ourselves should one still lord it o’er the rest ; 
That we elect a pope I now suggest. 

Ye know, what quality ensures 
A man’s success, his rise secures. 

frosch (sings). 

Bear, lady nightingale above, 1750 

Ten thousand greetings to my love. 

SIEBEL. 

No greetings to a sweetheart ! No love-songs shall there be 1 

FROSCH. 

Love greetings and love-kisses ! Thou shalt not hinder me I 
(Sings.) 

Undo the bolt ! in stilly night, 

Undo the bolt ! thy love’s awake ! 1755 

Shut to the bolt ! with morning light — 

SIEBEL. 

Ay, sing away, sing on, her praises sound ; — the snake ! 

My turn to laugh will come some day. 

Me hath she jilted once, you the same trick she’ll play. 
Some gnome her lover be ! where cross-roads meet, 1760 
With her to play the fool ; or old he-goat, 

From Blooksberg coming in swift gallop, bleat 
A good night to her, from his hairy throat ! 

A proper lad of genuine flesh and blood, 

Is for the damsel far too good ; 1765 

The greeting she shall have from me, 

To smash her window-panes will be ! 

brander (stnking on the table). 
Silence ! Attend ! to me give ear ! 


FAUST. 


93 


Confess, sirs, I know how to live : 

Some love-sick folk are sitting here ! 

Hence, ’tis hut fit, their hearts to cheer, 

That I a good -night strain to them should give. 

Hark ! of the newest fashion is my song ! 

Strike boldly in the chorus, clear and strong ! 

(He sings . ) 

Once in a cellar lived a rat, 

He feasted there on butter, 

Until his paunch became as fat 
As that of Doctor Luther. 

The cook laid poison for the guest, 

Then was his heart with pangs oppress’d, 

As if his frame love wasted. 

chorus (shouting). 

As if his frame love wasted. 

BRANDER. 

He ran around, he ran abroad, 

Of every puddle drinking. 

The house with rage he scratch’d and gnaw’d, 

In vain, — he fast was sinking ; 1785 

Full many an anguish’d bound he gave, 

Nothing the hapless brute could save, 

As if his frame love wasted. 

chorus. 1790 

As if his frame love wasted. 

BRANDER. 

By torture driven, in open day, 

The kitchen he invaded, 


1770 


1775 


1780 


94 


FAUST. 


Convulsed upon the hearth he Tay, 

With anguish sorely jaded ; 

The poisoner laugh’d, Ha ! ha ! quoth she, 
His life is ebbing fast, I see, 

As if his frame love wasted. 

CHORUS. 

As if his frame love wasted. 

SIEBEL. 

How the dull boors exulting shout ! 

Poison for the poor rats to strew 
A fine exploit it is no doubt. 

BRANDER. 

They, as it seems, stand well with you ! 

ALTMAYER. 

Old bald -pate ! with the paunch profound ! 

The rat’s mishap hath tamed his nature ; 

For he his counterpart hath found 
Depicted in the swollen creature. 

Faust and Mephistopheles. 

MEPHISTOPHEBES. 

I now must introduce to you 
Before aught else, this jovial crew, 

To show how lightly life may glide away ; 

With the folk here each day’s a holiday. 

With little wit and much content, 

Each on his own small round intent, 

Like sportive kitten with its tail ; 

While no sick- headache they bewail, 

And while their host will credit give, 

Joyous and free from care they live. 


1795 


1800 


1805 


1810 


1815 


FAUST. 


95 


BRANDER. 

They’re off a journey, that is clear, — 

They look so strange ! they’ve scarce been here 
An hour. 

FROSCH. 

You’re right ! Leipzig’s the place for me ! 
’Tis quite a little Paris ; people there 
Acquire a certain easy finish’d air. 

SIEBEL. 

What take you now these travellers to be ? 

FROSCH. 

Let me alone ! O’er a full glass you’ll see, 

As easily I’ll worm their secret out 
As draw an infant’s tooth. I’ve not a doubt 
That my two gentlemen are nobly born, 

They look dissatisfied and full of scorn. 

BRANDER. 

They are but mountebanks, I’ll lay a bet ! 

ALTMAYER. 

Most like. 

FROSCH. 

Mark me, I’ll screw it from them yet ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST). 

These fellows would not scent the devil out, 

E’en though he had them by the very throat 1 

FAUST. 


1820 


1825 


1830 


Good-morrow, gentlemen 1 


96 


FAUST. 


SIEBEL. 

Thanks for your fair salute. 

(Aside, glancing at Mephistopheles. ) 
How ! goes the follow on a halting foot? 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Is it permitted here with you to sit ? 

Then though good wine is not forthcoming here, 1835 

Good company at least our hearts will cheer. 

ALTMAYER. 

A dainty gentleman, no doubt of it. 

FROSCH. 

You’re doubtless recently from Rippach ? Pray, 

Did you with Master Hans there chance to sup ? 

MEPH ISTOPHELES. 

To-day wepass’d him, hut we did not stop ! 1840 

When last we met him he had much to say 
Touching his cousins, and to each he sent 
Full many a greeting and kind compliment. 

( With an inclination towards Frosch. ) 

altmayer ( aside to Frosch). 

You have it there 1 

SIEBEL. 

Faith 1 he’s a knowing one ! 

FROSCH. 

Have patience ! I will show him up anon 1 1845 

MEPH ISTOPHELES. 

Unless I err, as we drew near 
We heard some practis’d voices pealing, 


FAUST. 


97 


A song must admirably here 
Re-echo from this vaulted ceiling ! 

FROSCH. 

That you’re an amateur one plainly sees ! 1850 

MEPHIST OPH ELES. 

Oh no, though strong the love, I cannot boast much skill. 
AiTMAYER. 

Give us a song ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

As many as you will. 

SIEBEL. 

But be it a brand-new one, if you please ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

But recently returned from Spain are we, 

The pleasant land of wine and minstrelsy. 1855 

(Sings.) 

A king there was once reigning, 

Who had a goodly flea — 

FROSCH. 

Hark ! did you rightly catch the words ? a flea ! 

An odd sort of a guest he needs must be. 

MEPHISTOPHELES ( Sings ). 

A king there was once reigning, 1860 

Who had a goodly flea, 

Him loved he without feigning, 

As his own son were he ! 

His tailor then he summon’d, 

The tailor to him goes : 


5 


1865 




FAUST. 


Now measure me the youngster 
For jerkin and for hose ! 

BRANDER. 

Take proper heed, the tailor strictly charge, 
The nicest measurement to take, 

And as he loves his head, to make 
The hose quite smooth and not too large ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

In satin and in velvet, 

Behold the younker dressed ; 

Bedizen’d o’er with ribbons, 

A cross upon his breast. 

Prime minister they made him, 

He wore a star of state ; 

And all his poor relations 
Were courtiers rich and great. 

The gentlemen and ladies 
At court were sore distressed ; 

The Queen and all her maidens 
Were bitten by the pest, 

And yet they dared not scratch them, 
Or chase the fleas away. 

If we are bit, we catch them, 

And crack without delay. 

CHORUS (shouting). 

If we are bit, etc. 

FROSCH. 

Bravo ! That’s the song for me ! 

SIEBEL. 

Such be the fate of every flea 1 


187(U 


1875 


1880 


1885 


1890 


FAUST. 


99 


BRANDER. 

With clever finger catch and kill. 

ALTMAYER. 

Hurrah for wine and freedom still ! 

MEPHISTOPHEEES. 

Were hut your wine a trifle better, friend, 

A glass to freedom I would gladly drain. 

SIEBEE. 

You’d better not repeat those words again ! 1895 

MEPHISTOPHEEES. 

I am afraid the landlord to offend ; 

Else freely would I treat each worthy guest 
From our own cellar to the very best. 

SIEBEL. 

Out with it then ! Your doings I’ll defend. 

FROSCH. 

Give a good glass, and straight we’ll praise you, one and 
all. 1900 

Only let not your samples be too small ; 

For if my judgment you desire, 

Certes, an ample mouthful I require. 

altmayer (aside). 

I guess, they’re from the Ehenish land. 

M EPHISTOPHELES. 

Fetch me a gimlet here ! 

BRANDER. 

Say, what therewith to bore ? 1905 

You cannot have the wine-casks at the door? 


IOO 


FAUST. 


ALTMAYER. 

Our landlord’s tool-basket behind doth yonder stand. 

mephistopheles (takes the gimlet). 

(To Frosch.) 

Now only say ! what liquor will you take ? 

FROSCH. 

How mean you that ? have you of every sort ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Each may his own selection make. 1910 

ALTMAYER ( to FROSCH). 

Ha ! Ha ! You lick your lips already at the thought. 

FROSCH. 

Good, if I have my choice, the Rhenish I propose ; 

For still the fairest gifts the fatherland bestows. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

( boring a hole in the edge of the table opposite to vihere 
Frosch is sitting). 

Get me a little wax — and make some stoppers — quick ! 
ALTMAYER. 

Why, this is nothing but a juggler’s trick ! 1915 

MEPHISTOPHELES (to BrANDEr). 

And you ? 

BRANDER. 

Champagne’s the wine for me. 

Right brisk and sparkling let it be ! 

(Mephistopheles bores, one of the party has in 
the meantime prepared the wax-stoppers and 
stopped” the holes. ) 


FAUST. 


ioi 


BRANDER. 

What foreign is one always can’t decline, 

What’s good is often scatter’d far apart. 

The French your genuine German hates with all his heart, 
Yet has a relish for their wine. 1920 

SIEBEL 

(as Mephistopheles approaches him). 

I like not acid wine, I must allow, 

Give me a glass of genuine sweet ! 

mephistopheles (bores). 

Tokay 

Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay. 

ALTMAYER. 

Come ! look me in the face ! no fooling now ! 1925 

You are but making fun of us, I trow. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ah ! ah ! that would indeed be making free 
With such distinguished guests. Come, no delay ; 

What liquor can I serve you with, I pray ? 

ALTMAYER. 

Only be quick, it matters not to me. 1930 

(After the holes are all bored and stopped.) 

mephistopheles (with strange gestures). 
Grapes the vine-stock bears. 

Horns the buck -goat wears ! 

Wine is sap, the vine is wood, 

The wooden board yields wine as good. 

With a deeper glance and true 


1935 


102 


FAUST. 


The mysteries of nature view ! 

Have faith and here’s a miracle ! 

Your stoppers draw and drink your fill ! 

ALL 

(as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each 
runs into his glass). 

Oh beauteous spring, which flows so fair ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Spill not a single drop, of this beware ! 1940 

( They drink repeatedly. ) 

all (sing). 

Happy as cannibals are we, 

Or as five hundred swine. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

They’re in their glory, mark their elevation ! 

FAUST. 

Let’s hence, nor here our stay prolong. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Attend, of bruitishness ere long 1945 

You’ll see a glorious revelation. 

SIEBEL 

(dnnks carelessly ; the wine is spilt upon the ground , and turns 
to flame). 

Help ! fire ! help ! Hell is burning ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

(addressing the flames). 

Stop, 


Kind element, be still, I say ! 


FAUST. 


103 


{To the Company.) 

Of purgatorial fire as yet ’ tis but a drop. 

SIEBEL. 

What means the knave ! For this you’ll dearly pay ! 

Us, it appears, you do not know. 1950 

FROSCH. 

Such tricks a second time he’d better show ! 

ALTMAYER. 

Methinks ’twere well we pack’d him quietly away. 

SIEBEL. 

What, sir ! with us your hocus-pocus play ! 

MEPH ISTOPHELES . 

Silence, old wine-cask ! 

SIEBEE. 

How ! add insult, too ! 1 955 

Vile broomstick ! 

BRANDER. 

Hold ! or blows shall rain on you. 

ALTMAYER. 

{draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out 
against him. ) 

I bum ! I burn ! 

SIEBEL. 

’Tis sorcery, I vow J 

Strike home ! The fellow is fair game, I trow ! 

{They draw their knives and attack Mephistopheles. ) 


104 


FAUST. 


mephistopheles (with solemn gestures ). 
Visionary scenes appear ! 

Words delusive cheat the ear ! 1960 

Be ye there, and he ye here ! 

( They stand amazed and gaze on each other . ) 

t 

ALTMAYER. 

Where am I ? What a beauteous land ! 

PROSCH. 

Vineyards ! unless my sight deceives? 

SIEBEL. 

And clust’ring grapes, too, close at hand ! 

BRANDER. 

And underneath the spreading leaves, 1965 

What stems there be ! What grapes I see ! 

(He seizes Siebel by the nose. The others reciprocally 
do the same , and raise their knives . ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES (as above). 

Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take ! 

Note how the devil loves a jest to break ! 

(He disappears with Faust ; the fellows draw back from one 
another . ) 

SIEBEL. 

What was it ? 

ALTMAYER. 

How? 

PROSCH. 

Was that your nose ? 

BRANDER ( to SlEBEL). 

And look, my hand doth thine enclose 1 


1970 


FAUST. 


105 


ALTMAYER. 

I felt a shock, it went through every limb ! 

A chair ! I’m fainting ! All things swim ! 

FROSCH. 

Say what has happened, what’s it all about? 

SIEBEL. 

Where is the fellow ? Could I scent him out, 

His body from his soul I’d soon divide ! 1975 

ALTMAYER. 

With my own eyes, upon a cask astride, 

Forth through the cellar-door I saw him ride 

Heavy as lead my feet are growing. 

( Turning to the table.) 

Would that the wine again were flowing ! 

SIEBEL. 

’Twas all delusion, cheat and lie. 1980 

FROSCH. 

’Twas wine I drank, most certainly. 

BRANDER. 

What of the grapes, too, — where are they? 

ALTMAYER. 

Who now will miracles gainsay ? 

Witches’ Kitchen. 

A large caldron hangs over the fire on a low hearth ; 
various figures appear in the vapor rising from it. 
A female Monkey sits beside the caldron to 
skim it, and’ xvatch that it does not boil over. 
5 * 


io6 


FAUST. 


The male Monkey with the young ones is 
seated near , warming himself. The walls and 
ceiling are adorned with the strangest articles of 
mtch-fumiture. 

Faust, Mephistopheles. 

FAUST. 

This senseless, juggling witchcraft I detest ! 

Dost promise that in this foul nest 
Of madness, I shall be restored ? 

Must I seek counsel from an ancient dame ? 

And can she, by these rites abhorred, 

Take thirty winters from my frame ? 

Woe’s me, if thou naught better canst suggest ! 

Hope has already fled my breast. 

Has neither nature nor a noble mind 
A balsam yet devis’d of any kind ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

My friend, you now speak sensibly. In truth, 

Nature a method giveth to renew thy youth : 1995 

But in another book the lesson’s writ ; — 

It forms a curious chapter, I admit. 

FAUST. 

I fain would know it. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Good ! A remedy 
Without physician, gold, or sorcery : 

Away forthwith, and to the fields repair, 2000 

Begin to delve, to cultivate the ground, 

Thy senses and thyself confine 
Within the very narrowest round, 


1985 


1990 


FAUST. 


107 


Support thyself upon the simplest fare, 

Live like a very brute the brutes among, 2005 

Neither esteem it robbery 

The acre thou dost reap, thyself to dung. 

This the best method, credit me, 

Again at eighty to grow hale and young. 

FAUST. 

I am not used to it, nor can myself degrade 2010 

So far, as in my hand to take the spade. 

For this mean life my spirit soars too high. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Then must we to the witch apply ! 

FAUST. 

Will none but this old beldame do ? 

Canst not thyself the potion brew ? 2015 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A pretty play our leisure to beguile ! 

A thousand bridges I could build meanwhile. 

Not science only and consummate art, 

Patience must also bear her part. 

A quiet spirit worketh whole years long-; 2020 

Time only makes the subtle ferment strong. 

And all things that belong thereto 
Are wondrous and exceeding rare ! 

The devil taught her, it is true ; 

But yet the draught the devil can’t prepare. 2025 

{Perceiving the beasts. ) 

Look yonder, what a dainty pair ! 

Here is the maid ! the knave is there ! 

( To the beasts. ) 

It seems your dame is not at home ? 


io8 FAUST. 

THE MONKEYS. 

Gone to carouse, 

Out of the house, 

Thro’ the chimney and away ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

How long is it her wont to roam ? 

THE MONKEYS. 

While we can warm our paws she’ll stay. 

MEPHISTOPHELES ( to FAUST). 
What think you of the charming creatures ? 

FAUST. 

I loathe alike their form and features ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Nay, such discourse, be it confessed, 

Is just the thing that pleases me the best. 

( To the Monkeys. ) 

Tell me, ye whelps, accursed crew ! 

What stir ye in the broth about ? 

MONKEYS. 

Coarse beggar's gruel here we stew. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Of customers you’ll have a rout. 

THE HE-MONKEY 

( approaching and fawning on Mephistopheles). 
Quick ! quick ! throw the dice, 

Make me rich in a trice, 


2030 


2035 


2040 


FAUST. 

109 

Oh give me the prize ! 

Alas, for myself ! 

Had I plenty of pelf, 

I then should be wise. 

2045 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

How blest the ape would think himself, if he 
Could only put into the lottery ! 

{In the meantime the young Monkeys have been playing with a 
large globe , which they roll forwards. ) 

THE HE-MONKEY. 

The world behold ; 2050 

Unceasingly roll’d, 

It riseth and falleth ever ; 

It ringeth like glass ! 

How brittle, alas ! 

’Tis hollow, and resteth never. 2055 

How bright the sphere, 

Still brighter here ! 

Now living am 1 1 
Dear son, beware ; 

Nor venture there ! 2060 

Thou too must die ! 

It is of clay ; 

’Twill crumble away ; 

There fragments lie. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Of what use is the sieve? 2065 

the he-monkey {taking it down). 

The sieve would show, 

If thou wert a thief or no ? 


IIO 


FAUST. 


(He runs to the She-Monkey, and makes hei' look 
through it . ) 

Look through the sieve ! 

Dost know him the thief, 

And dar’st thou not call him so? 2070 

mephistopheles ( approaching the fire). 
And then this pot ? 

the monkeys. 

The half-witted sot ! 

He knows not the pot ! 

He knows not the kettle ! 

mephistopheles. 

Unmannerly beast ! 2075 

Be civil at least ! 

the he-monkey. 

Take the whisk and sit down in the settle ! 

(He makes Mephistopheles sit down . ) 

FAUST. 

( Who all this time has been standing before a looking-glass, now 
approaching, and now retiring from it . ) 

What do I see ? what form, whose charms transcend 
The loveliness of earth, is mirror’d here ! 

O Love, to waft me to her sphere, 2080 

To me the swiftest of thy pinions lend ! 

Alas ! If I remain not rooted to this place, 

If to approach more near I’m fondly lur’d, 

Her image fades, in veiling mist obscur’d !’ — 

Model of beauty both in form and face ! 2085 

Is’t possible ? Hath woman charms so rare ? 


FAUST. 


in 


Is this recumbent form, supremely fair, 

The very essence of all heavenly grace ? 

Can aught so exquisite on earth be found? 

MEPH ISTOPHELES. 

The six days’ labor of a god, my friend, 2090 

Who doth himself cry bravo, at the end, 

By something clever doubtless should be crown’d, 

For this time gaze your fill, and when you please 
Just such a prize for you I can provide ; 

How blest is he to whom kind fate decrees, 2095 

To take her to his home, a lovely bride ! 

(Faust continues to gaze into the mirror. Mephistopheles, 
stretching himself on the settle and 'playing with the whisk , con- 
tinues to speak. ) 

Here sit I, like a king upon his throne ; 

My sceptre this ; — the crown I want alone. 

THE MONKEYS 

(who have hitherto been making all sorts of strange gestures , bring 
Mephistopheles a crown , with loud cries). 

Oh, be so good, 

With sweat and with blood 2100 

The crown to lime ! 

(They handle the crown awkwardly and break it in two pieces , with 
which they skip about . ) 

’Twas fate’s decree ! 

We speak and see ! 

We hear and rhyme. 

faust (before the mirror). 

Woe’s me ! well-nigh distraught I feel ! 2105 

mephistopheles 

(pointing to the beasts). 

And even my own head almost begins to reel. 


112 


FAUST. 


THE MONKEYS. 

If good luck attend, 

If fitly things blend, 

Our jargon with thought 

And with reason is fraught ! 2110 

FAUST (as above). 

A flame is kindled in my breast ! 

Let us begone ! nor linger here ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

(in the same position). 

It now at least must be confessed, 

That poets sometimes are sincere. 

( The caldron which the She-Monkey has neglected 
begins to boil over a great flame arises , which 
streams up the chimney. The Witch comes down 
the chimney with horrible cries . ) 

THE WITCH. 

Ougli ! ough ! ough ! ough ! 2115 

Accursed brute ! accursed sow ! 

Thou dost neglect the pot, for shame ! 

Accursed brute to scorch the dame ! 

(Perceiving Faust and Mephistopheles.) 

Whom have we here ? 

Who’s sneaking here ? 2120 

Whence are ye come ? 

With what desire? 

The plague of fire 
Your bones consume ! 

(She dips the skimming-ladle into the caldron and throws 
flames at Faust, Mephistopheles, and the 
Monkeys. The Monkeys whimper.) 


FAUST. 


113 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

{twirling the whisk which he holds is his hand, and striking 
among the glasses and pots). 

Dash ! Smash ! 2125 

There lies the glass ! 

There lies the slime ! 

’Tis but a jest ; 

I but keep time, 

Thou hellish pest, 2130 

To thine own chime ! 

( While the Witch steps back in rage and astonishment .) 
Dost know me ! Skeleton ! Vile scarecrow, thou ! 

Thy lord and master dost thou know ? 

What holds me, that I deal not now 

Thee and thine apes a stunning blow ? 2135 

No more respect to my red vest dost pay? 

Does my cock’s feather no allegiance claim? 

Have I my visage masked to-day ? 

Must I be forced myself to name ? 

THE WITCH. 

Master, forgive this rude salute ! 2140 

But I perceive no cloven foot. 

And your two ravens, where are they ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

This once I must admit your plea ; — 

For truly I must own that we 

Each other have not seen for many a day. 2145 

The culture, too, that shapes the world, at last 
Hath e’en the devil in its sphere embraced ; 

The northern phantom from the scene hath pass’d, 

Tail, talons, horns, are nowhere to be traced ! 


FAUST. 


114 

As for the foot, with which I can’t dispense, 

’ Twould injure me in company, and hence, 

Like many a youthful cavalier, 

False calves I now have worn for many a year. 

the witch (dancing). 

I am beside myself with joy, 

To see once more the gallant Satan here ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Woman, no more that name employ ! 

THE WITCH. 

But why ? what mischief hath it done ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

To fable it too long hath appertained ; 

But people from the change have nothing won. 

Bid of the evil one, the evil has remained. 2160 

Lord Baron call thou me, so is the matter good ; 

Of other cavaliers the mien I wear. 

Dost make no question of my gentle blood ; 

See here, this is the scutcheon that I bear ! 

(He makes an unseemly gesture. ) 

. THE WITCH 

(laughing immoderately). 

Ha ! Ha ! Just like yourself ! You are, I ween, 2165 
The same mad wag that you have ever been ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST). 

My friend, learn this to understand, I pray ! 

To deal with witches this is still the way. 

THE WITCH. 

Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire ? 


2150 


2155 


FAUST. 


115 

M EPHISTOPHELES. 

Of your known juice a goblet we require. 2170 

But for the very oldest let me ask ; 

Double its strength with years doth grow. 

THE WITCH. 

Most willingly ! And here I have a flask, 

From which I’ve sipp’d myself ere now ; 

What’s more, it doth no longer stink ; 2175 

To you a glass I joyfully will give. 

[Aside.) 

If unprepar’d, however, this man drink, 

He hath not, as you know, an hour to live. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

He’s my good friend, with whom ’twill prosper well ; 

I grudge him not the choicest of thy store. 2180 

Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, 

And straight a bumper for him pour ! 

( The Witch, with extraordinary gestures , describes 
a circle , and 'places strange things within it. The 
glasses meanwhile begin to ring , the caldron to 
sound , and to make music. Lastly , she brings a 
great book ; places the Monkeys in the circle to 
serve her as a desk , and to hold the torches. She 
beckons Faust to approach. ) 

FAUST ( to MEPHISTOPHELES). 

Tell me, to what doth all this tend ? 

W T here will these frantic gestures end ? 

This loathsome cheat, this senseless stuff 
I’ve known and hated long enough. 


2185 


Ii6 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Mere mummery, a laugh to raise ! 

Pray don’t be so fastidious ! She 
But as a leech, her hocus-pocus plays, 

That well with you her potion may agree. 2190 

{He compels Faust to enter the circle.) 

( The Witch, with great emphasis , begins to declaim from 
the book. ) 

This must thou ken : 

Of one make ten, 

Pass two, and then 
Make square the three, 

So rich thou’ It be. 2195 

Drop out the four ! 

From five and six, 

Thus says the witch, 

Make seven and eight. 

So all is straight ! 2200 

And nine is one* 

And ten is none, 

This is the witch’s one-time-one ! 

FAUST. 

The hag doth as in fever rave. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

To these will follow many a stave. 2205 

I know it well, so rings the book throughout ; 

Much time I’ ve lost in puzzling o’ er its pages, 

For downright paradox, no doubt, 

A mystery remains alike to fools and sages. 

Ancient the art and modern too, my friend. 2210 

’Tis still the fashion as it used to be, 


FAUST. 


117 

Error instead of truth abroad to send 
By means of three and one, and one and three. 

’Tis ever taught and babbled in the schools. 

Who'd take the trouble to dispute with fools ? 2215 

When words men hear, in sooth, they usually believe 
That there must needs therein be something to conceive. 

the witch ( continues ). 

The lofty power 
Of wisdom’s dower, 

From all the world conceal’d ! 2220 

Who thinketh not, 

To him I wot, 

Unsought it is reveal’d. 

FAUST. 

What nonsense doth the hag propound ? 

My brain it doth well-nigh confound. 

A hundred thousand fools or more, 

Methinks I hear in chorus roar. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Incomparable Sibyl cease, I pray ! 

Hand us thy liquor without more delay. 

And to the very brim the goblet crown ! 

My friend he is, and need not be afraid ; 

Besides, he is a man of many a grade, 

Who hath drunk deep already. 

( The Witch, with many ceremonies , pours the liquor into 
a cup ; as Faust lifts it to his mouth , a light flame 
anses . ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Gulp it down ! 

No hesitation ! It will prove 


2225 


2230 


Ii8 FAUST. 

A cordial, and your heart inspire ! 

What ! with the devil hand and glove, 

And yet shrink back afraid of fire ? 

{The Witch dissolves the circle. Faust steps out.) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Now forth at once ! thou dar’st not rest. 

WITCH. 

And much, sir, may the liquor profit you ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES {to the WlTCH). 
And if to pleasure thee I aught can do, 

Pray on Walpurgis mention thy request. 

WITCH. 

Here is a song, sung o’er sometimes, you’ll see, 

That ’twill a singular effect produce. 

MEPHISTOPHELES ( to FAUST). 
Come, quick, and let thyself he led by me ; 

Thou must perspire, in order that the juice 
Thy frame may penetrate through every part. 

Thy noble idleness I’ll teach thee then to prize, 

And soon with ecstasy thou’ It recognize 
How Cupid stirs and gambols in thy heart. 

FAUST. 

Let me but gaze one moment in the glass ! 

Too lovely was that female form ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Nay ! nay ! 

A model which all women shall surpass, 


2235 


2240 


2245 


2250 


FAUST. 


119 


In flesh and blood ere long thou shalt survey. 

{Aside. ) 

As works the draught, thou presently shalt greet 
A Helen in each woman thou dost meet. 2255 


A Street. 

Faust (Margaret passing by). 

FAUST. 

Fair lady, may I thus make free 
To offer you my arm and company ? 

MARGARET. 

I am no lady, am not fair, 

Can without escort home repair. 

{She disengages herself and exit.) 

FAUST. 

By heaven ! This girl is fair indeed ! 2260 

No form like hers can I recall. 

Virtue she hath, and modest heed, 

Is piquant too, and sharp withal. 

Her cheek’s soft light, her rosy lips, 

No length of time will e'er eclipse ! 2265 

Her downward glance in passing by, 

Deep in my heart is stamp'd for aye ; 

How curt and sharp her answer too, 

My ravish’d heart to rapture grew ! 

(mephistopheles enters.) 

FAUST. 

This girl must win for me ! Dost hear? 


2270 


120 


FAUST. 


Which? 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

FAUST. 


She who but now passed. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

What! She? 

She from confession cometh here, 

From every sin absolved and free ; 

I crept near the confessor’s chair. 

All innocence her virgin-soul, 2275 

For next to nothing went she there ; 

O’er such as she I’ve no control ! 

FAUST. 

She’s past fourteen. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

You really talk 

Like any gay Lothario, 

Who every floweret from its stalk 2280 

Would pluck, and deems nor grace, nor truth, 

Secure against his arts, forsooth 
This ne’er the less won’t always do. 

FAUST. 

Sir Moralizer, prithee, pause ; 

Nor plague me with your tiresome laws ! 2285 

To cut the matter short, my friend, 

She must this very night be mine, — 

And if to help me you decline, 

Midnight shall see our compact end. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 
What may occur just bear in mind ! 


2290 


FAUST. 


121 


A fortnight’s space, at least, I need, 
A fit occasion but to find. 


FAUST. 

With but seven hours I could succeed ; 
Nor should I want the devil’s wile, 

So young a creature to beguile. 

MEPHISTOPH ELES . 

Like any Frenchman now you speak, 
But do not fret, I pray ; why seek 
To hurry to enjoyment straight? 

The pleasure is not half so great, 

As when at first, around, above, 

With all the fooleries of love, 

The puppet you can knead and mould 
As in Italian story oft is told. 

FAUST. 

No such incentives do I need. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 
But now, without offence or jest ! 

You cannot quickly, I protest, 

In winning this sweet child succeed. 

By storjn we cannot take the fort, 

To stratagem we must resort. 

FAUST. 

Conduct me to her place of rest ! 

Some token of the angel bring ! 

A kerchief from her snowy breast, 

A garter bring me, — anything ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 
That I my anxious zeal may prove, 

6 


2295 


2300 


2305 


2310 


122 


FAUST. 


Your pangs to sootli and aid your love, 2315 

A single moment will we not delay, 

Will lead you to her room this very day. 

FAUST. 

And shall I see her ? — Have her ? 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

No 

She to a neighbor’s house will go ; 

But in her atmosphere alone, 

The tedious hours meanwhile you may employ 
In blissful dreams of future joy. 


Can we go now ? 


FAUST. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 


’Tis yet too soon. 


2320 


FAUST. 

Some present for my love procure ! 


( Exit. ) 


MEPHISTOPH ELES. 

Presents so soon ! ’tis well ! success is sure ! 2325 

I know full many a secret store 
Of treasure, buried long before, 

I must a little look them o’er. {Exit.) 

Evening. A small and neat Room. 

MARGARET 

{braiding and binding up her hair). 
I would give something now to know 

Who yonder gentleman could be ! 2330 

He had a gallant air, I trow, 


FAUST. 


123 


And doubtless was of high degree : 

That written on his brow was seen — 

Nor else would he so bold have been. (Exit ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Come in ! tread softly ! be discreet ! 2335 

FAUST ( after a pause). 

Begone and leave me, I entreat ! 

mephistopheles (looking around ). 

Not every maiden is so neat. (Exit . ) 

faust (gazing round). 

Welcome sweet twilight gloom which reigns, 

Through this dim place of hallow’d rest ! 

Fond yearning love inspire my breast, 2340 

Feeding on hope’s sweet dew thy blissful pains ! 

What stillness here environs me ! 

Content and order brood around. 

What fulness in this poverty ! 

In this small cell what bliss profound ! 2345 

{He throws himself on the leather arm-chair beside the bed. ) 
Receive me thou, who hast in thine embrace 
Welcom’d, in joy and grief, the ages flown ! 

How oft the children of a by-gone race 
Have cluster’d round this patriarchal throne ! 

Haply she, also, whom I hold so dear, 2350 

For Christmas gift, with grateful joy possess’d, 

Hath with the full round cheek of childhood, here, 

Her grandsire’s wither’d hand devoutly press’d. 

Maiden ! I feel thy spirit haunt the place, 

Breathing of order and abounding grace. 2355 

As with a mother’s voice it prompteth thee 


124 


FAUST. 


The pure white cover o’er the board to spread, 

To strew the crisping sand beneath thy tread. 

Dear hand ! so godlike in its ministry ! 

The hut becomes a paradise through thee ! 2360 

And here — {He raises the bed curtain.) 

How thrills my pulse with strange delight ! 

Here could I linger hours untold ; 

Thou, Nature, didst in vision bright, 

The embryo angel here unfold. 2365 

Here lay the child, her bosom warm 
With life ; while steeped in slumber’s dew, 

To perfect grace, her godlike form, 

With pure and nallow’d weavings grew ! 

And thou ! ah here what seekest thou? 2370 

How quails mine inmost being now ! 

What wouldst thou here? what makes thy heart so sore? 
Unhappy Faust ! I know thee now no more. 

Do I a magic atmosphere inhale ? 

Erewhile, my passion would not brook delay ! 2375 

Now in a pure love-dream I melt away. 

Are we the sport of every passing gale ? 

Should she return and enter now, 

How wouldst thou rue thy guilty flame ! 

Proud vaunter — thou wouldst hide thy brow, — 2380 

And at her feet sink down with shame. 

' MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Quick ! quick ! below I see her there. 

FAUST. 

Away ! I will return no more ! 


FAUST. 


125 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Here is a casket, with a store 
Of jewels, which I got elsewhere. 

Just lay it in the press ; make haste I 
I swear to you, ’twill turn her brain ; 

Therein some trifles I have placed, 

Wherewith another to obtain. 

But child is child, and play is play. 

FAUST. 

I know not — shall I ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Do you ask ? 

Perchance you would retain the treasure? 

If such your wish, why then, I say, 

Henceforth absolve me from my task, 

Nor longer waste your hours of leisure. 2395 

I trust you’re not by avarice led ! 

I rub my hands, I scratch my head, — 

(He places the casket in the press and closes the lock.) 
Now quick ! Away ! 

That soon the sweet young creature may 

The wish and purpose of your heart obey ; 2400 

Yet stand you there 

As would you to the lecture-room repair, 

As if before you stood, 

Arrayed in flesh and blood, 

Physics and metaphysics weird and grey I — 2405 

Away ! 

Margaret ( with a lamp). 

It is so close, so sultry now. 

( She opens the window. ) 


2385 


2390 


126 


FAUST. 


Yet out of doors ’ tis not so warm. 

I feel so strange, I know not how — 

I wish my mother would come home. 

Through me there runs a shuddering — 2410 

I’m but a foolish timid thing ! 

( While undressing herself she begins to sing.) 
There was a king in Thule, 

True even to the grave ; 

To whom his dying mistress 
A golden beaker gave. 2415 

At every feast he drained it, 

Naught was to him so dear, 

And often as he drained it, 

Gush’d from his eyes the tear. 

"When death he felt approaching, 2420 

His cities o’er he told ; 

And grudged his heir no treasure 
Except his cup of gold. 

Girt round with knightly vassals 

At a royal feast sat he, 2425 

In yon proud hall ancestral, 

In his castle o’er the sea. 

Up stood the jovial monarch, 

And quaff’d his last life’s glow, 

Then hurled the hallow’d goblet 2430 

Into the flood below. 

He saw it splashing, drinking, 

And plunging in the sea ; 

His eyes meanwhile were sinking, 

And never again drank he. 


2435 


FAUST. 


127 


(She opens the press to put away her clothes, and 
perceives the casket . ) 

How comes this lovely casket here ? The press 
I locked, of that I’m confident, 

’Tis very wonderful ! What’s in it I can’t guess. 

Perhaps ’twas brought by some one in distress, 

And left in pledge for loan my mother lent. 2440 

Here by a ribbon hangs a little key ! 

I have a mind to open it and see ! 

Heavens ! only look ! what have we here ! 

In all my days ne’er saw I such a sight ! 

Jewels ! which any noble dame might wear, 2445 

For some high pageant richly dight ! 

How would the necklace look on me ! 

These splended gems, whose may they be ? 

(She puts them on and steps before the glass.) 
Were but the ear-rings only mine ! 

Thus one has quite another air. 2450 

What boots it to be young and fair ? 

It doubtless may be very fine ; 

But then, alas, none cares for you, 

And praise sounds half like pity too. 

Gold all doth lure, 2455 

Gold doth secure 

All things. Alas, we poor ! 

Promenade. 

(Faust walking thoughtfully up and down. To 
him Mephistopheles.) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

By love despis’d ! By hell’s fierce fires I curse, 

Would I knew aught to make my imprecation worse ! 


128 


FAUST. 


FATJST. 

What aileth thee ? what chafes thee now so sore ? 2460 

A face like that I never saw before ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’d yield me to the devil instantly, 

Did it not happen that myself am he 1 

FAUST. 

There must be some disorder in thy wit ! 

To rave thus like a madman, is it fit ? 2465 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Just think ! The gems for Gretchen brought, 

Them hath a priest now made his own ! — 

A glimpse of them the mother caught, 

And ’gan with secret fear to groan. 

The woman’s scent is keen enough ; 2470 

Doth ever in the prayer-book snuff ; 

Smells every article to ascertain 
Whether the thing is holy or profane, 

And scented in the jewels rare 

That there was not much blessing there. 2475 

“Mv child,” she cries, “ill-gotten good 
Ensnares the soul, consumes the blood ; 

With them we’ll deck our Lady’s shrine, 

She’ll cheer our souls with bread divine !” 

At this poor Gretchen ’gan to pout ; 2480 

’Tis a gift-horse, at least, she thought, 

And sure, he godless cannot be 
Who brought them here so cleverly. 

Straight for a priest the mother sent, 

Who, when he understood the jest, 

With what he saw was well. content. 


2485 


FAUST. 


129 


“ This shows a pious mind !” Quoth he : 

‘ ‘ Self-conquest is true victory. 

The Church hath a good stomach, she, with zest 
Hath lands and kingdoms swallow’d down, 

And never yet a surfeit known. 

The Church alone, he it confessed, 

Daughters, can ill-got wealth digest.” 


FAUST. 

It is a general custom, too, 

Practised alike by king and Jew. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

With that, clasp, chain, and ring, he swept 
As they were mushrooms ; and the casket, 
Without one word of thanks, he kept, 

As if of nuts it were a basket. 

Promised reward in heaven, then forth lie hied — 
And greatly they were edified. 


And Gretchen ! 


FAUST. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 


In unquiet mood 

Knows neither what she would or should ; 
The trinkets night and day thinks o’er, 

On him who brought them dwells still more. 


FAUST. 

The darling’s sorrow grieves me, bring 
Another set without delay ! 

The first, methinks, was no great thing. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

All’s to my gentleman child’s play ! 

6 * 


2490 


2495 


2500 


2505 


130 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Plan all things to achieve my end ! 2510 

Engage the attention of her friend ! 

No milk-and-water devil be, 

And bring fresh jewels instantly ! 


M EPH I STOPHELES. 

Ay, sir ! Most gladly F 11 obey. 

M EPH I STOPH ELES. 


(Faust exit.) 


Your doting love-sick fool, with ease, 

Merely his lady-love to please, 2515 

Sun, moon, and stars in sport would puff away. {Exit.) 

The Neighbor’s House. 
martha (alone). 

God pardon my dear husband, he 
Doth not in truth act well by me ! ' 

Forth in the world abroad to roam, 2520 

And leave me on the straw at home. 

And yet his will I ne’er did thwart, 

God knows, I lov’d him from my heart. 

( She weeps.) 

Perchance he’s dead ! — oh wretched state ! — 

Had I but a certificate ! 2525 


(Margaret comes.) 


Dame Martha ! 


MARGARET. 

MARTHA. 


Gretchen ? 


MARGARET. 

Only think ! 


FAUST. 


131 


My knees beneath me well-nigh sink ! 

Within ray press I’ve found to-day 
Another case, of ebony. 

And things — magnificent they are, 2530 

More costly than the first, by far. 

MARTHA. 

You must not name it to your mother ! 

It would to shrift, just like the other. 

MARGARET. 

Nay look at them ! now only see ! 

martha ( dresses her up). 

Thou happy creature ! 

MARGARET. 

Woe is me ! 2535 

Them in the street I cannot wear, 

Or in the church, or anywhere. 

MARTHA. 

Come often over here to me, 

The gems put on quite privately ; 

And then before the mirror walk an hour or so, 2540 

Thus we shall have our pleasure too. 

Then suitable occasions we must seize, 

As at a feast, to show them by degrees : 

A chain at first, then ear-drops, — and your mother 
Won’t see them, or we’ll coin some tale or other. 2545 

MARGARET. 

But who, I wonder, could the caskets bring? 

I fear there’s something wrong about the thing ! 

( A knock. ) 

Good Heavens ! can that my mother be ? 


132 


FAUST. 


Martha ( 'peering through the blind). 

’Tis a strange gentleman, I see. 

Come in ! 

(Mephistopheles enters.) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’ve ventur’d to intrude to day. 2550 

Ladies, excuse the liberty, I pray. 

( He steps back respectfully before Margaret. ) 
After Dame Martha Schwerdtlein I inquire ! 

MARTHA. 

’Tis I. Pray what have you to say to me ? 

mephistopheles {aside to her). 

I know you know, — and therefore will retire ; 

At present you’ve distinguished company. 2555 

Pardon the freedom, Madam, with your leave, 

I will make free to call again at eve. 

MARTHA {aloud). 

Why, child, of all strange notions, he 
For some grand lady taketh thee ! 

MARGARET. 

I am, in truth, of humble blood — 2560 

The gentleman is far too good — 

Nor gems nor trinkets are my own. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Oh ’tis not the mere ornaments alone ; 

Her glance and mien far more betray. 

Kejoiced I am that I may stay. 2565 

MARTHA. 

Your business, Sir ? I long to know — 


FAUST. 


133 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Would 1 could happier tidings show ! 

I trust mine errrand you’ll not let me rue; 

Your husband’s dead, and greeteth you. 

MARTHA. 

Is dead? True heart ! Oh misery ! 2570 

My husband dead ! Oh, I shall die ! 

MARGARET. 

Alas ! good Martha ! don’t despair ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Now listen to the sad affair ! 

MARGARET. 

I for this cause should fear to love. 

The loss my certain death would prove. 2575 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Joy still must sorrow, sorrow joy attend. 

MARTHA. 

Proceed, and tell the story of his end I 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

At Padua, in St. Anthony’s, 

In holy ground his body lies ; 

Quiet and cool his place of rest, 2580 

With pious ceremonials blest. 

MARTHA. 

And had you naught besides to bring? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Oh yes ! one grave and solemn prayer ; 


134 


FAUST. 


Let them for him three hundred masses sing ! 

But in my pockets, I have nothing there. 

MARTHA. 

No trinket ! no love-token did he send ! 

What every journeyman safe in his pouch will hoard 
There for remembrance fondly stored, 

And rather hungers, rather begs than spend ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Madam, in truth, it grieves me sore, 

But he his gold not lavishly hath spent. 

His failings too he deeply did repent, 

Ay ! and his evil plight bewail’d still more. 

MARGARET. 

Alas ! That men should thus be doomed to woe ! 

I for his soul will many a requiem pray. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A husband you deserve this very day ; 

A child so worthy to be loved. 

MARGARET. 

Ah no, 

That time hath not yet come for me. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

If not a spouse, a gallant let it be. 

Among heaven’s choicest gifts, I place, 

So sweet a darling to embrace. 

MARGARET. 

Our land doth no such usage know. 


2585 


2590 


2595 


2600 


FAUST. 


135 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 
Usage or not, it happens so. 


Go on, I pray. 


MARTHA. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 


I stood by his bedside. 

Something less foul it was than dung ; 2605 

’Twas straw halt rotten ; yet, he as a Christian died, 

And sorely hath remorse his conscience wrung. 

“ Wretch that I was,” quoth he, with parting breath, . 

“ So to forsake my business and my wife ! 

Ah ! the remembrance is my death. 2610 

Could I but have her pardon in this life !” — 


Martha {weeping). 

Dear soul ! I’ve long forgiven him, indeed ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

“Though she, God knows, was more to blame than I.” 


MARTHA. 

What, on the brink of death assert a lie ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

If I am skill’d the countenance to read, 2615 

He doubtless fabled as he parted hence. — 

“ No time had I to gape, or take my ease,” he said, 

“ First to get children, and then get them bread ; 

And bread, too, in the very widest sense ; 

Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share.” 2620 

MARTHA. 

What, all my truth, my love forgotten quite? 

My weary drudgery by day and night ! 


i 3 6 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Not so ! He thought of you with tender care. 

Quoth he : “ Heaven knows now fervently I prayed 
For wife and children when from Malta bound ; — 
The prayer hath heaven with favor crowned ; 

We took a Turkish vessel which conveyed 
Rich store of treasure for the Sultan’s court ; 

Its own reward our gallant action brought ; 

The captur’d prize was shared among the crew ; 

And of the treasure I received my due. ’ ’ 

MARTHA. 

How ? Where ? The treasure hath he buried, pray ? 
MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Where the four winds have blown it, who can say? 

In Naples as he stroll’d, a stranger there, — 

A comely maid took pity on my friend ; 

And gave such tokens of her love and care 
That he retained them to his blessed end. 

MARTHA. 

Scoundrel ! to rob his children of their bread ! 

And all this misery, this bitter need, 

Could not his course of recklessness impede ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Well, he hath paid the forfeit, and is dead. 

Now were I in your place, my counsel hear ; 

My weeds I’d wear for one chaste year, 

And for another lover meanwhile would look out. 

MARTHA. 

Alas, I might search far and near, 

Not quickly should I find another like my first ! 


2625 


2630 


2635 


2640 


2645 


FAUST. 


137 


There could not be a fonder fool than mine, 

Only he loved too well abroad to roam ; 

Loved foreign women too, and foreign wine, 

And loved, besides, the dice accurs’d. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

All had gone swimmingly, no doubt, 

Had he but given'you at home, 

On his side, just as wide a range. 

Upon such terms, to you I swear, 

Myself with you would gladly rings exchange ! 

MARTHA. 

The gentleman is surely pleas’d to jest ! 

mephistopheles {aside). 

Now to be off in time, were best ! 

She’d make the very devil marry her. 

{To Margaret.) 

How fares it with your heart ? 

ft 

MARGARET. 

How mean you, Sir ? 

mephistopheles {aside). 

The sweet young innocent ! 

{Aloud.) 

Ladies, farewell ! 


Farewell ! 


MARGARET. 

MARTHA. 


But ere you leave us, quickly tell I 
I from a witness fain had heard, 


2650 


2655 


2660 


I3» 


FAUST. 


Where, how, and when my husband died and was interr’d. 
To forms I’ve always been attached indeed, 

His death I fain would in the journals read. 2665 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ay, madam, what two witnesses declare 
Is held as valid everywhere ; 

A gallant friend I have, not far from here, 

Who will for you before the judge appear. 

I’ll bring him straight. 

* MARTHA. 

I pray you do ! 2670 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And this young lady, we shall find her, too ? 

A noble youth, far travelled, he, 

Shows to the sex all courtesy. 

MARGARET. 

I in his presence needs must blush for shame. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Not in the presence of a crowned king 1 2675 

MARTHA. 

The garden, then, behind my house, we’ll name, 

There we’ll await you both this evening. 

A Street. 

Faust, Mephistopheles. 
faust. 

How is it now ? How speeds it ? Is’t in train ? 


FAUST. 


139 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Bravo ! I find you all aflame ! 

Gretchen full soon your own you’ll name. 

This eve, at neighbor Martha’s, her you’ll meet again 
The woman seems expressly made 
To drive the pimp and gipsy’s trade. 

FAU9T. 

Good ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

But from us she something would request. 
FAUST. 

A favor claims return as this world goes. 

M EPHISTOPH ELES. 

We have on oath but duly to attest 

That her dead husband’s limbs, outstretch’d, repose 

In holy ground at Padua. 

FAUST. 

Sage indeed ! 

So I suppose we straight must journey there ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Sancta simplidtas / For that no need ! 

Without much knowledge we have but to swear. 

FAUST. 

If you have nothing better to suggest, 

Against your plan I must at once protest. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Oh, holy man ! methinks I have you there ! 

In all your life say, have you ne’er 


2680 


2685 


2690 


2695 


140 


FAUST. 


False witness borne, until this hour? 

Have you of God, the world, and all it doth contain, 

Of man, and that which worketh in his heart and brain, 

Not definitions given, in words of weight and power, 

With front unblushing, and a dauntless breast? 2700 

Yet, if into the depth of things you go, 

Touching these matters, it must be confess’d, 

As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein’s death you know ! 

FAUST. 

Thou art and dost remain liar and sophist too. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ay, if one did not take a somewhat deeper view I 2705 
To-morrow, in all honor, thou 
Poor Gretchen wilt befool, and vow 
Thy soul’s deep love, in lover s fashion. 

FAUST. 

And from my heart. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

All good and fair I 

Then deathless constancy thou’ It swear ; 2710 

Speak of one all o’ermastering passion, — 

Will that too issue from the heart ? 

FAUST. 

Forbear ! 

When passion sways me, and I seek to frame 
Fit utterance for feeling, deep, intense, 

And for my frenzy finding no fit name, 2715 

Sweep round the ample world with every sense, 

Grasp at the loftiest words to speak my flame, 

And call the glow, wherewith I bum, 


FAUST. 


141 

Quenchless, eternal, yea, eteme — 

Is that of sophistry a devilish play ? 2720 

MEPHISTOPHELE3. 

Yet am I right ! 

FAUST. 

Mark this, my friend, 

And spare my lungs : whoe’er to have the right is fain, 

If he have but a tongue, wherewith his point to gain, 

Will gain it in the end. 

But come, of gossip I am weary quite ; 2725 

Because I’ve no resourse, thou’rt in the right. 

Garden. 

Margaret on F aust’ s arm. Martha with Mephistopheles 
walking up and down. 

MARGARET. 

I feel it, you but spare my ignorance, 

To shame me, sir, you stoop thus low. 

A traveller from complaisance, 

Still makes the best of things ; I know 2730 

Too well, my humble prattle never can 
Have power to entertain so wise a man. 

FAUST. 

One glance, one word of thine doth charm me more 
Than the world’s wisdom or the sage’s lore. 

{He kisses her hand . ) 

•MARGARET. 

Nay ! trouble not yourself ! A hand so coarse, 2735 

So rude as mine, now can you kiss ! 

What constant work at home must I not do perforce ! 

My mother too exacting is. 

( They pass on.) 


142 


FAUST. 


MARTHA. 

Thus, sir, unceasing travel is your lot ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Traffic and duty urge us ! With what pain 2740 

Are we compelled to leave full many a spot, 

Where yet we dare not once remain ! 

MARTHA. 

In youth’s wild years, with vigor crown’d, 

’Tis not amiss thus through the world to sweep ; 

But ah, the evil days come round ! 2745 

And to a lonely grave as bachelor to creep, 

A pleasant thing has no one found. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

The prospect fills me with dismay. 

MARTHA. 

Therefore in time, dear sir, reflect, I pray 

MARGARET. 

Ay, out of sight is out of mind ! 

Politeness easy is to you ; 

Friends everywhere, and not a few, 

Wiser than I am, you will find. 

FAUST. 

Trust me, my angel, what doth pass for sense 
Full oft is self-conceit and blindness ! 

MARGARET. 


(They pass on.) 

2750 


How? 


2755 


FAUST. 


143 


FAUST. 

Simplicity and holy innocence, — 

When will ye learn your hallow’d worth to know ! 
Ah, when will meekness and humility, 

Kind and all-bounteous nature’s loftiest dower — 

MARGARET. 

Only one little moment think of me ! 

To think of you I shall have many an hour. 

FAUST. 

You are perhaps much alone ? 

MARGARET. 

Yes, small our household is, I own, 

Yet must I see to it. No maid we keep, 

And I must cook, sew, knit, and sweep, 

Still early on my feet and late ; 

My mother is in all things, great and small, 

So accurate ! 

Not that for thrift there is much pressing need ; 
Than others we might make more show indeed ; 
My father left behind a small estate, 

A house and garden near the city-wall. 

Quiet enough my life has been of late ; 

My brother for a soldier’s gone ; 

My little sister’s dead ; the babe to rear 
Occasion’d me some care and fond annoy ; 

But I would go through all again with joy, 

The darling was to me so dear. 

FAUST. 

An angel sw T eet, if it resembled thee ! 


2760 


2765 


2770 


2775 


144 


FAUST. 


MARGARET. 


I reared it up, and it grew fond of me. 

After my fathers death it saw the day ; 

We gave my mother up for lost, she lay 
In such a wretched plight, and then at length 
So very slowly she regain’d her strength. 
Weak as she was, ’twas vain for her to try 
Herself to suckle the poor babe, so I 
Eeared it on milk and water all alone ; 

And thus the child became as ’ twere my own ; 
Within my arms it stretched itself and grew, 
And smiling, nestled in my bosom too. 


2780 


2785 


2790 


FAUST. 

Doubtlesss the purest happiness was thine. 

MARGARET. 

But many weary hours, in sooth, were also mine. 

At night its little cradle stood 

Close to my bed ; so was I wide awake 

If it but stirred ; 2795 

One while I was obliged to give it food, 

Or to my arms the darling take ; 

From bed full oft must rise, whene’er its cry I heard, 

And, dancing it, must pace the chamber to and fro ; 

Stand at the wash-tub early ; forthwith go 2800 

To market, and then mind the cooking too — 

To-morrow like to-day, the whole year through. 

Ah, sir, thus living, it must be confess’d 
One's spirits are not always of the best; 

Yet it a relish gives to food and rest. ( They pass on . ) 


MARTHA. 


Poor women ! we are badly off, I own ; 
A bachelor’s conversion’s hard, indeed ! 


2806 


FAUST. 


145 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Madam, with, one like you it rests alone, 

To tutor me a better course to lead. 

MARTHA. 

Speak frankly, sir, none is there you have met ? 2810 

Has your heart ne’er attach’d itself as yet? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

One’s own fireside and a good wife are gold 
And pearls of price, so says the proverb old. 

MARTHA. 

I mean, has passion never stirred your breast ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’ve everywhere been well received, I own. 2815 

MARTHA. 

Yet hath your heart no earnest preference known ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

With ladies one should ne’er presume to jest. 

MARTHA. 

Ah ! you mistake ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’m sorry I’m so blind I 
But this I know — that you are very kind. 

( They pass on. ) 

FAUST. 

Me, little angel, didst thou recognize, 2820 

When in the garden first I came ? 

MARGARET. 

Did you not see it ? I cast down my eyes. 

7 


146 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Thou dost forgive my boldness, dost not blame 
The liberty I took that day, 

When thou from church didst lately wend thy way ? 2825 

MARGARET. 

I was confused. So had it never been ; 

No one of me could any evil say. 

Alas, thought I, he doubtless in thy mien 
Something unmaidenly or bold hath seen ? 

It seemed as if it struck him suddenly, 2830 

Here’s just a girl with whom one may make free ! 

Yet I must own that then I scarcely knew 
What in your favor here began at once to plead ; 

Yet I was angry with myself indeed, 

That I more angry could not feel with you. 2835 

FAUST. 

Sweet love ! 

MARGARET. 

Just wait awhile ! 

(She gathers a star-flower and plucks off the leaves one 
after another. ) 

FAUST. 

A nosegay may that be ? 

MARGARET. 

No ! It is but a game. 

FAUST. 

How? 

MARAGRET. 

Go, you’ll laugh at me ! 

(She plucks off the leaves and murmurs to herself . ) 

FAUST. 

What murmurest thou ? 


FAUST. 


147 


MARGARET {half aloud). 

He loves me, — loves me not. 

FAUST. 

Sweet angel, with thy face of heavenly bliss ! 

Margaret ( continues ). 

He loves me — not — he loves me — not — 

{plucking off the last leaf with fond joy.) 

He loves me ! 

FAUST. 

Yes! 

And this flower-language, darling, let it be 2841 

A heavenly oracle ! He loveth thee ! 

Know’st thou the meaning of, He loveth thee? 

{He seizes both her hands.) 


I tremble so ! 


MARGARET. 

FAUST. 


Nay ! do not tremble, love ! 

Let this hand-pressure, let this glance reveal 2845 

Feelings, all power of speech above ; 

To give oneself up wholly and to feel 
A joy that must eternal prove ! 

Eternal ! — Yes, its end would be despair. 

No end ! — It cannot end ! 2850 

(Margaret presses his hand, extricates herself , 
and runs away. He stands a moment in thought , 
and then follows her. ) 


Night’s closing. 


Martha {approaching). 
M EPH istopheles . 


Yes, we’ll presently away. 


148 


FAUST. 


MARTHA. 

I would entreat you longer yet to stay ; 

But ’tis a wicked place, just hereabout ; 

It is as if the folk had nothing else to do, 

Nothing to think of too, 2855 

But gaping watch their neighbors, who goes in and out ; 
And scandal’s busy still, do whatsoe’er one may. 

And our young couple ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

They have flown up there. 

The wanton butterflies ! 

MARTHA. 

He seems to take to her. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And she to him. ’Tis of the world the way ! 2860 


He comes ! 


A Summer-House. 

(Margaret runs in, hides behind the door, holds 
the tip of her finger to her lip, and peeps through 
the crevice.) 

MARGARET. 

FAUST. 


Ah, little rogue, so thou 

Think’ st to provoke me ! I have caught thee now ! 

(He kisses her. ) 


MARGARET 


(embracing him, and returning the kiss). 
Dearest of men ! I love thee from my heart ! 

(Mephistopheles knocks.) 


FAUST. 


149 


Faust {stamping). 

Who’s there ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A friend ! 


FAUST. 

A brute ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

’ Tis time to part. 
maetha (comes). 

Ay, it is late, good sir. 

FAUST. 

Mayn’t I attend you, then? 2865 

MARGARET. 

Oh no — my mother would — adieu, adieu ! 

FAUST. 

And must I really then take leave of you ? 

Farewell ! 

MARTHA. 

Good-bye ! 

MARGARET. 

Ere long to meet again ! 

{Exeunt Faust and Mephistopheles.) 

MARGARET. 

Good heavens ! how all things far and near 
Must fill his mind, — a man like this I 2870 

Abash’d before him I appear, 

And say to all things only, yes. 

Poor simple child, I cannot see 
What ’tis that he can find in me. 


{Exit. ) 


FAUST. 


150 


Forest and Cavern. 

faust (alone). . 

Spirit sublime ! Thou gav’st me, gav’st me all 2875 

For which I prayed ! Not vainly hast thou turn’d 
To me thy countenance in flaming fire : 

Gavest me glorious nature for my realm, 

And also power to feel her and enjoy ; 

Not merely with a cold and wondering glance, 2880 

Thou dost permit me in her depths profound, 

As in the bosom of a friend to gaze. 

Before me thou dost lead her living tribes, 

And dost in silent grove, in air and stream 

Teach me to know my kindred. And when roars 2885 

The howling storm-blast through the groaning wood, 

'Wrenching the giant pine, which in its fall 

Crashing sweeps down its neighbor trunks and boughs, 

While with the hollow noise the hill resounds : 

Then thou dost lead me to some shelter’d cave, 2890 

Dost there reveal me to myself, and show 
Of my own bosom the mysterious depths. 

And when, with soothing beam, the moon’s pale orb 
Full in my view climbs up the pathless sky, 

From crag and dewy grove, the silvery forms 
Of by-gone ages hover, and assuage 
The joy austere of contemplative thought. 

Oh, that naught perfect is assign’d to man, 

I feel, alas ! With this exalted joy, 

Which lifts me near and nearer to the gods, 

Thou gav’st me this companion, unto whom 
I needs must cling, though cold and insolent, 

He still degrades me to myself, and turns 
Thy glorious gifts to nothing, with a breath. 


2895 


2900 


FAUST. 


151 

He in ray bosom with malicious zeal 2905 

For that fair image fans a raging fire ; 

From craving to enjoyment thus I reel, 

And in enjoyment languish for desire. 

(Mephistopheles enters. ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Of this lone life have you not had your fill ? 

How for so long can it have charms for you ? 2910 

’Tis well enough to try it if you will ; 

But then away again to something new ! 

FAUST. 

Would you could better occupy your leisure, 

Than in disturbing thus my hours of joy. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Well ! Well ! I’ll leave you to yourself with pleasure, 

A serioug tone you hardly dare employ. 2916 

To part from one so crazy, harsh, and cross, 

I should not find a grievous loss. 

The livelong day, for you I toil and fret ; 

Ne’er from his worship’s face a hint I get, 2920 

What pleases him, or what to let alone. 

FAUST. 

Ay truly ! that is just the proper tone ! 

He wearies me, and would with thanks be paid ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Poor Son of Earth, without my aid, 

How would thy weary days have flown ? 2925 

Thee of thy foolish whims I’ve cured, 

Thy vain imaginations banished, 


152 


FAUST. 


And but for me, be well assured, 

Thou from this sphere must soon have vanished. 

In rocky hollows and in caverns drear, 2930 

Why like an owl sit moping here ? 

Wherefore from dripping stones and moss with ooze em- 
bued, 

Dost suck, like any toad, thy food ? 

A rare, sweet pastime. Verily ! 

The doctor cleaveth still to thee. 2935 

FAUST. 

Dost comprehend what bliss without alloy 
From this wild wand’ ring in the desert springs? — 

Couldst thou but guess the new life-power it brings, 

Thou wouldst be fiend enough to envy me my joy. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

What super-earthly ecstasy ! at night, 2940 

To lie in darkness on the dewy height, 

Embracing heaven and earth in rapture high, 

The soul dilating to a deity ; 

With prescient yearnings pierce the core of earth, 

Feel in your laboring breast the six-days’ birth, 2945 

Enjoy in proud delight what no one knows, 

While your love-rapture o’er creation flows, — 

The earthly lost in beatific vision, 

And then the lofty intuition — 

( with a gesture . ) 

I need not tell you how — to close ! 2950 


Fie on you ! 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPH ELES . 

This displeases you ? ‘ 1 For shame !” 

You are forsooth entitled to exclaim ; 


FAUST. 


153 


We to chaste ears it seems must not pronounce 
What, nathless, the chaste heart cannot renounce. 

Well, to he brief, the joy as fit occasions rise, 2955 

I grudge you not, of specious lies. 

But soon the self-deluding vein 
Is past, once more thou’rt whirled away, 

And should it last, thou’ It be the prey 

Of frenzy or remorse and pain. 2960 

Enough of this ! Thy true love dwells apart, 

And all to her seems flat and tame ; 

Alone thine image fills her heart, 

She loves thee with an all-devouring flame. 

First came thy passion with o’erpowering rush. 2965 

Like mountain torrent, swollen by the melted snow ; 

Full in her heart didst pour the sudden gush, 

Now has thy brooklet ceased to flow. 

Instead of sitting throned midst forests wild, 

It would become so great a lord 2970 

To comfort the enamor’d child, 

And the young monkey for her love reward. 

To her the hours seem miserably long ; 

She from the window sees the clouds float by 

As o’er the lofty city walls they fly. 2975 

“ If I a birdie were !” so runs her song, 

Half through the night and all day long. 

Cheerful sometimes, more oft at heart full sore ; 

Fairly outwept seem now her tears, 

Anon she tranquil is, or so appears, 2980 

And love-sick evermore. 

FAUST. 

Snake ! Serpent vile ! 

mephistopheles (aside). 

Good ! If I catch thee with my guile ! 

7* 


154 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Vile reprobate ! go get thee hence ; 

Forbear the lovely girl to name ! 2985 

Nor in my half-distracted sense, 

Kindle anew the smouldering flame ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

What wouldest thou ! She thinks you’ve taken flight ; 

It seems, she’s partly in the right. 

FAUST. 

I’m near her still — and should I distant rove, 2990 

Her I can ne’er forget, ne’er lose her love ; 

And all things touch’d by those sweet lips of hers, 

Even the very Host, my envy stirs. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

’Tis well ! I oft have envied you indeed, 

The twin-pair that among the roses feed. 2995 


FAUST. 

Pander, avaunt ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Go to ! I laugh, the while you rail. 

The power which fashion’d youth and maid, 

Well understood the noble trade ; 

So neither shall occasion fail. 

But hence ! — In truth a case for gloom ! 3000 

Bethink thee, to thy mistress’ room 
And not to death shouldst go ! 

FAUST. 

What is to me heaven’s joy within her arms? 

What though my life her bosom warms ! — 

Do I not ever feel her woe ? 


3005 


FAUST. 


155 


The outcast am I not, who knows no rest, 

Inhuman monster, aimless and unblest, 

Who like the greedy surge, from rock to rock, 

Sweeps down the dread abyss with desperate shock ? 

While she within her lowly cot, which graced 3010 

The Alpine slope, beside the waters wild, 

Her homely cares in that small world embraced, 

Secluded lived, a simple artless child. 

Was’t not enough, in thy delirious whirl 

To blast the steadfast rocks ; 3015 

Her, and her peace as well, 

Must I, God-hated one, to ruin hurl ! 

Dost claim this holocaust, remorseless Hell ! 

Fiend, help me to cut short the hours of dread ! 

Let what must happen, happen speedily ! 3020 

Her direful doom fall crushing on my head, 

And into ruin let her plunge with me ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Why how again it seethes and glows ! 

Away, thou fool ! Her torment ease ! 

When such a head no issue sees, 3025 

It pictures straight the final close. 

Long life to him who boldly dares ! 

A devil’s pluck thou’rt wont to show ; 

As for a devil who despairs, 

There’s naught so mawkish here below. 3030 

Margaret’s Room. 

Margaret ( alone at her spinning-wheel). 

My peace is gone, 

My heart is sore, 

I find it never, 

And nevermore. 


FAUST. 


Where him I have not, 3035 

Is the grave to me ; 

And bitter as gall 

The whole world to me. 

My wilder’ d brain 
Is overwrought ; 

My feeble senses 
Are distraught. 

My peace is gone, 

My heart is sore, 

I find it never, 

And nevermore ! 

For him from the window 
I gaze, at home ; 

For him and him only 

Abroad I roam. 3050 

His lofty step, 

His bearing high, 

The smile of his lip, 

The power of his eye, 

His witching words, 3055 

Their tones of bliss, 

His hand’s fond pressure, 

And ah — his kiss ! 

My peace is gone, 

My heart is sore, 3060 

I find it never, 

And nevermore. 


3040 


3045 


FAUST. 


157 


My bosom aches 
To feel him near ; 

Ah, could I clasp 
And fold him here ! 

Kiss him and kiss him 
Again would I, 

And on his kisses 
I fain would die ! 

Martha’s Garden. 
Margaret and Faust. 

MARGARET. 

Promise, me, Henry — 

FAUST. 

What I can ! 

MARGARET. 

How is it with religion in thy mind ? 

Thou art a dear kind-hearted man, 

But I’m afraid not piously inclined. 

FAUST. 

Forbear I Thou feelest I love thee alone ; 

For those I love, my life I would lay down, 

And none would of their faith or church bereave. 

MARGARET. 

That’s not enough, we must ourselves Relieve ! 

FAUST. 

Must we ? 

MARGARET. 

Ah, could I but thy soul inspire ! 
Thou honorest not the sacraments, alas ! 


3065 


3070 


3075 


3080 


i 5 8 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

I honor them. 

MARGARET. 

But yet without desire ; 

>Tis long since thou hast been either to shrift or mass. 
Dost thou believe in God ? 


FAUST. 

My darling, who dares say 

Yes, I in God believe? 

Question or priest or sage, and they 3085 

Seem, in the answer you receive, 

To mock the questioner. 

MARGARET. 

Then thou dost not believe ? 

FAUST. 

Sweet one ! my meaning do not misconceive ! 

Him who dare name 

And who proclaim, 3090 

Him I believe ? 

Who that can feel, 

His heart can steel, 

To say : I believe him not ? 

The All-embracer, 3095 

All-sustainer, 

Holds and sustains he not 
Thee, me, himself? 

Lifts not the Heaven its dome above ? 

Doth not the firm-set earth beneath us lie ? 3100 

And beaming tenderly with looks of love, 

Climb not the everlasting stars on high ? 

Do I not gaze into thine eyes ? 


FAUST. 


159 


Nature’s impenetrable agencies, 

Are they not thronging on thy heart and brain, 

Viewless, or visible to mortal ken, 

Around thee weaving their mysterious chain ? 

Fill thence thy heart, how large soe’er it be ; 

And in the feeling when thou utterly art blest, 

Then call it, what thou wilt, — 

Call it Bliss ! Heart ! Love ! God ! 

I have no name for it ! 

’Tis feeling all ; 

Name is but sound and smoke 
Shrouding the glow of heaven. 

MARGARET. 

All this is doubtless good and fair ; 

Almost the same the parson says, 

Only in slightly different phrase. 

FAUST. 

Beneath Heaven’s sunshine, everywhere, 

This is the utterance of the human heart ; 3120 

Each in his language doth the like impart ; 

Then why not I in mine ? 

MARGARET. 

What thus I hear 

Sounds plausible, yet I’m not reconciled ; 

There’ s something wrong about it ; much I fear 
That thou art not a Christian. 

FAUST. 

My sweet child ! 3125 

MARGARET. 

Alas ! it long hath sorely troubled me, 

To see thee in such odious company. 


3105 


3110 


3115 


i6o 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

How SO ? 

MARGARET. 

The man who comes with thee, I hate, 

Yea, in my spirit’s inmost depths abhor ; 

As his loath’d visage, in my life before, 3130 

Naught to my heart e’er gave a pang so great. 

FAUST. 

Fear not, sweet love ! 

MARGARET. 

His presence chills my blood. 

Towards all beside I have a kindly mood ; 

Yet, though I yearn to gaze on thee, I feel 

At sight of him strange horror o’er me steal ; 3135 

That he’s a villain my conviction’s strong. 

May Heaven forgive me, if I do him wrong ! 

FAUST. 

Yet such strange fellows in the world must be ! 

MARGARET. 

I would not live with such an one as he. 

If for a moment he but enter here, 3140 

He looks around him with a mocking sneer, 

And malice ill-conceal’d ; 

That he, with naught on earth can sympathize is clear ; 
Upon his brow ’tis legibly revealed, 

That to his heart no living soul is dear. 3145 

So blest I feel, within thine arms, 

So warm and happy, — free from all alarms ; 

And still my heart doth close when he comes near. 

FAUST. 

Foreboding angel ! check thy fear ! 


FAUST. 


161 


MARGARET. 

It so o’ermasters me, that when, 

Or wheresoe’er, his step I hear, 

I almost think, no more I love thee then. 
Besides, when he is near, I ne’er could pray, 
This eats into my heart ; with thee 
The same, my Henry, it must be. 

FAUST. 

This is antipathy ! 

MARGARET. 

I must away. 

FAUST. 

For one brief hour then may I never rest, 

And heart to heart, and soul to soul be pressed ? 

MARGARET. 

Ah, if I slept alone, to-night 

The bolt I fain would leave undrawn for three ; 

But then my mother’s sleep is light, 

Were we surprised by her, ah me ! 

Upon the spot I should be dead. 

FAUST. 

Dear angel ! there’s no cause for dread. 

Here is a little phial, — if she take 
Mixed in her drink three drops, ’twill steep 
Her nature in a deep and soothing sleep. 

MARGARET. 

What do I not for thy dear sake ! 

To her it will not harmful prove ? 


3150 


3155 


3160 


3165 


162 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

Should I advise else, sweet love? 3170 

MARGARET. 

I know not, dearest, when thy face I see, 

What doth my spirit to thy will constrain ; 

Already I have done so much for thee, 

That scarcely more to do doth now remain. 

{Exit.) 

(Mephistopheles enters . ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

The monkey ! Is she gone ? 

FAUST. 

Again hast played the spy ? 3175 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Of all that pass’ d I’ m well apprised, 

I heard the doctor catechised, 

And trust he’ll profit much thereby ! 

Fain would the girls inquire indeed 

Touching their lover’s faith, if he 3180 

Believe according to the ancient creed ; 

They think : if pliant there, to us he’ll yielding be. 

FAUST. 

Thou monster, dost not see that this 
Pure soul, possessed by ardent love, 

Full of the living faith, 3185 

To her of bliss 

The only pledge, must holy anguish prove, 

Holding the man she loves, fore-doomed to endless death ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Most sensual, supersensualist? The while 
A damsel leads thee by the nose ! 


3190 


FAUST. 


163 


FAUST. 

Of filth and fire abortion vile ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

In physiognomy strange skill she shows ; 

She in my presence feels she knows not how ; 
My mask it seems a hidden sense reveals ; 

That I’m a genius she must needs allow, 

That I’m the very devil perhaps she feels. 

So then to-night — 

FAUST. 

What’s that to you ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’ve my amusement in it too ! 

At the Well. 

Margaret and Bessy, with 'pitchers . 

BESSY. 

Of Barbara hast nothing heard ? 

MARGARET. 

I rarely go from home, — no, not a word. 

BESSY. 

’Tis true : Sybilla told me so to-day ! 

That comes of being proud, methinks ; 

She played the fool at last. 

MARGARET. 

How so ? 

BESSY. 

They say 

That two she feedeth when she eats and drinks. 


3195 


3200 


164 


FAUST. 


MARGARET. 

Alas! 

BESSY. 

She’s rightly served, in sooth. 

How long she hung upon the youth ! 

"What promenades, what jaunts there were, 

To dancing booth and village fair ! 

The first she everywhere must shine, 

He always treating her to pastry and to wine. 

Of her good looks she was so vain, 

So shameless too, that she did not disdain 
Even his presents to retain ; 

Sweet words and kisses came anon — 

And then the virgin flower was gone ! 

MARGARET. 

Poor thing ! 

BESSY. 

Forsooth dost pity her ? 

At night, when at our wheels we sat, 

Abroad our mothers ne’er would let us stir. 

Then with her lover she must chat, 

Or on the bench, or in the dusky walk, 

Thinking the hours too brief for their sweet talk ; 
Her proud head she will have to bow, 

And in white sheet do penance now ! 

MARGARET. 

But he will surely marry her ? 

BESSY. 

Not he ! 

He won’ t be such a fool ! a gallant lad 
Like him, can roam o’er land and sea. 

Besides, he’s off. 


3205 


3210 


3215 


3220 


3225 


FAUST. 


165 


MARGARET. 

That is not fair ! 

BESSY. 

If she should get him, ’twere almost as bad ! 

Her myrtle wreath the boys would tear ; 

And then we girls would plague her too, 3230 

For we chopp’d straw before her door would strew. 

{Exit.) 

MARGARET ( walking towards home). 
How stoutly once I could inveigh, 

If a poor maiden went astray ! 

Hot words enough my tongue could find, 

’Gainst others’ sin to speak my mind ; 3235 

Black as it seemed, I blacken’d it still more, 

And strove to make it blacker than before. 

And did myself securely bless — 

Now my own trespass doth appear ! 

Yet ah ! — what urg’d me to transgress, 3240 

Sweet heaven, it was so good ! so dear ! 

Zwinger. 

Enclosure between the City-wall and the Gate. 

{In the niche of the wall a devotional image of the Mater 
dolorosa , with flower -pots before it.) 

Margaret ( putting fresh flowers in the pots) . 

Ah, rich in sorrow, thou, 

Stoop thy maternal brow, 

And mark with pitying eye my misery ! 

The sword in thy pierced heart, 3245 

Thou dost with bitter smart, 

Gaze upwards on thy Son’s death agony. 


FAUST. 


1 66 


To the dear God on high, 

Ascends thy piteous sigh, 

Pleading for his and thy sore misery. 3250 


3255 


3260 


The flower pots at my window 
Were wet with tears of mine, 

The while I pluck’d these blossoms, 3265 

At dawn to deck thy shrine I 

When early in my chamber 
Shone bright the rising morn, 

I sat there on my pallet, 

My heart with anguish torn. 3270 

Help ! from disgrace and death deliver me ! 

Ah ! rich in sorrow, thou, 

Stoop thy maternal brow, 

And mark with pitying eye my misery ! 


Ah, who can know 
The torturing woe, 

The pangs that rack me to the bone ! 
How my poor heart without relief, 
Trembles and throbs, its yearning grief 
Thou knowest, thou alone ! 

Ah, wheresoe’er I go, 

W T ith woe, with woe, with woe, 

My anguish’d breast is aching ! 

When all alone I creep, 

I weep, I weep, I weep, 

Alas ! my heart is breaking 1 


» 


FAUST. 


167 


Night. Street before Margaret’s door. 
valentine (a soldier, Margaret’s brother). 

When seated ’mong the jovial crowd 3275 

Where merry comrades boasting loud, 

Each named with pride his favorite lass, 

And in her honor drain’d his glass, 

Upon my elbows I w'ould lean, 

With easy quiet view the scene, 3280 

Nor give my tongue the rein, until 
Each swaggering blade had talked his fill. 

Then smiling I my beard would stroke, 

The while, with brimming glass, I spoke : 

“ Each to his taste ! but to my mind, 

Where in the country will you find 
A maid, as my dear Gretchen fair, 

Who with my sister can compare ?’ ’ 

Cling ! Clang ! so rang the jovial sound ! 

Shouts of assent went circling round ; 

Pride of her sex is she ! — cried some ; 

Then were the noisy boasters dumb. 

And now ! — I could tear out my hair, 

Or dash my brains out in despair ! — 

Me every scurvy knave may twit, 

With stinging jest and taunting sneer I 
Like skulking debtor I must sit, 

And sweat each casual word to hear ! 

And though I smash’d them one and all, — 

Yet them I could not liars call. 3300 

Who comes this way ? who’s sneaking here ? 

If I mistake not, two draw near. 

If he be one, have at him ; — well I wot 
Alive he shall not leave this spot ! 


3285 


3290 


3295 


1 68 


FAUST. 


Faust. Mephistopheles. 

FAUST. 

How from yon sacristy, athwart the night, 

Its beams the ever-burning taper throws, 

While ever waning, fades the glimmering light, 

As gathering darkness doth around it close ! 

So night-like gloom doth in my bosom reign. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I’m like a tom-cat in a thievish vein, 

That up fire-ladders tall and steep, 

And round the walls doth slyly creep ; 

Virtuous withal, I feel, with, I confess, 

A touch of thievish joy and wantonness. 

Thus through my limbs already there doth bound 
The glorious Walpurgis night ! 

After to-morrow it again comes round, 

What one doth wake for, then one knows aright ! 

FAUST. 

Meanwhile, the flame which I see glimmering there, 
Is it the treasure rising in the air ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ere long, I make no doubt, but you 
To raise the chest will feel inclined ; 

Erewhile I peep’d within it too ; 

* With lion-dollars ’tis well lined. 

FAUST. 

And not a trinket ? not a ring ? 

Wherewith my lovely girl to deck ? 


3305 


3310 


3315 


3320 


3325 


FAUST. 


169 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I saw among them some such thing, 

A string of pearls to grace her neck. 

FAUST. 

’Tis well ! I’m always loath to go, 

Without some gift my love to show. 3330 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Some pleasures gratis to enjoy, 

Should surely cause you no annoy. 

While bright with stars the heavens appear, 

I’ll sing a masterpiece of art : 

A moral song shall charm her ear, 3335 

More surely to beguile her heart. 

(Sings to the guitar . ) 

Kathrina say, 

Why lingering stay 
At dawn of day 

Before your lover’s door? 3340 

Maiden, beware, 

Nor enter there, 

Lest forth you fare, 

A maiden never more. 

Maiden take heed ! 

Beck well my rede ! 

Is’t done, the deed ? 

Good-night, you poor, poor thing ! 

The spoiler’s lies, 

His arts despise, 

Nor yield your prize, 

Without the marriage-ring ! 

8 


3345 


3350 


170 


FAUST. 


valentine ( steps forward). 
Whom are you luring here? I’ll give it you ! 
Accursed rat catchers, your strains I’ll end ! 
First, to the devil the guitar I’ 11 send ! 

Then to the devil with the singer too ! 

MEPHISTOPH ELES. 

The poor guitar ! ’tis done for now. 

VALENTINE. 

Your skull shall follow next, I trow ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST). 
Doctor, stand fast ! your strength collect ! 

Be prompt, and do as I direct. 

Out with your whisk ! keep close, I pray, 

I’ll parry ! do you thrust away ! 

VALENTINE. 

Then parry that ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Why not? 

VALENTINE. 

That too ! 


With ease ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

VALENTINE. 


The devil fights for you ! 
Why how is this? my hand’s already lamed ! 


Thrust home ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES ( to FaEST). 
VALENTINE (falls). 


3355 


3360 


3365 


Alas ! 


FAUST. 


171 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

There ! Now the lubber’s tamed ! 
But quick, away ! We must at once take wing ; 

A cry of murder strikes upon the ear ; 

With the police I know my course to steer, 

But with the blood-ban His another thing. 3370 

martha (at the window). 

Without ! without ! 

Margaret (at the window). 

Quick, bring a light ! 
martha (as above). 

They rail and scuffle, scream and fight ! 

PEOPLE. 

One lietli here already dead ! 

martha (coming out). 

Where are the murderers ? are they fled ? 

Margaret (coming out). 

Who lietli here ? 

PEOPLE. 

Thy mother’s son. 3375 

MARGARET. 

Almighty God ! I am undone ! 

VALENTINE. 

I’m dying — ’tis a soon-told tale, 

And sooner done the deed. 

Why, women, do ye howl and wail? 

To my last words give heed ! (All gather round him.) 3380 
Gretchen, thou’ rt still of tender age, 

And, well I wot, not over sage, 

Thou dost thy matters ill ; 


172 


FAUST. 


Let this in confidence be said : 

Since thou the path of shame dost tread, 3385 

Tread it with right good will ! 

MARGARET. 

My brother ! God ! what can this mean ? 

VALENTINE. 

Abstain, 

Nor dare God’s holy name profane ! 

What’s done, alas, is done and past ! 

Matters will take their course at last ; 3390 

By stealth thou dost begin with one, 

Others will follow him anon ; 

And when a dozen thee have known, 

Thou’ It common be to all the town. 

When infamy is newly born, 3395 

In secret she is brought to light, 

And the mysterious veil of night 
O’er head and ears is drawn ; 

The loathsome birth men fain would slay ; 

But soon, full grown, she waxes bold, 3400 

And though not fairer to behold, 

With brazen front insults the day : 

The more abhorrent to the sight, 

The more she courts the day’s pure light, 

The time already I discern, 3405 

When thee all honest folk will spurn, 

And shun thy hated form to meet, 

As when a corpse infects the street. 

Thy heart will sink in blank despair, 

When they shall look thee in the face ! 

A golden chain no more thou’ It wear — 

Nor near the altar take in church thy place — 


3410 


FAUST. 


173 


In fair lace collar simply dight 

Thou’ It dance no more with spirits light — 

In darksome corners thou wilt bide, 

Where beggars vile and cripples hide — 

And e’en though God thy crime forgive, 

On earth, a thing accursed, thou’lt live ! 

MARTHA. 

Your parting soul to God commend 

Your dying breath in slander will you spend ? 

VALENTINE. 

Could I but reach thy wither’d frame, 

Thou wretched beldame, void of shame ! 

Full measure I might hope to win 
Of pardon then for every sin. 

MARGARET. 

Brother ! what agonizing pain ! 

VALENTINE. 

I tell thee ! from vain tears abstain I 
’Twas thy dishonor pierced my heart, 

Thy fall the fatal death-stab gave. 

Through the death-sleep I now depart 
To God, a soldier true and brave. {Dies. ) 

Cathedral. 

Service , Organ , and Anthem. 
Margaret amongst a number of people. 
Evil-Spirit behind Margaret, 
evil-spirit. 

How different, Gretchen, was it once with thee, 
When thou, still full of innocence, 


3415 


3420 


3125 


3430 


174 


FAUST. 


Here to the altar earnest, 

And from the small and well-conn’ d book, 

Didst lisp thy prayer, 

Half childish sport, 

Half God in thy young heart ! 

Gretchen ! 

What thoughts are thine ? 

What deed of shame 
Lurks in thy sinful heart ? 

Is thy prayer utter’d for thy mother’s soul, 

Who into long, long torment slept through thee ? 

Whose blood is on thy threshold Z 

— And stirs there not already ’ neath thy heart 3445 

Another quick’ ning pulse, that even now 
Tortures itself and thee 
With its foreboding presence ? 

MARGARET. 

Woe! Woe! 

Oh could I free me from the thoughts 3450 

That hither, thither, crowd upon my brain, 

Against my will ! 

CHORUS. 

Dies irce, dies illa } 

Solvet 8ceclum in favillce. 

( The organ sounds.) 
EVIL-SPIRIT. 

Grim horror seizes thee ! 3455 

The trumpet sounds ! 

The graves are shaken ! 

And thy heart 
From ashy rest 


3435 


3440 


FAUST. 


175 


For torturing flames 3460 

Anew created, 

Trembles into life ! 

MARGARET. 

Would I were hence ! 

It is as if the organ 

Choked my breath, 3465 

As if the choir 

Melted my inmost heart ! 

CHORUS. 

Judex ergo cum sedebit , 

Quidquid latet adparebit , 

Nil inultum remanebit. 3470 

MARGARET. 

I feel oppressed ! 

The pillars of the wall 
Imprison me ! 

The vaulted roof 

Weighs down upon me ! — air ! 3475 

EVIL-SPIRIT. 

Wouldst hide thee? sin and shame 
Remain not hidden ! 

Air ! light ! 

Woe’s thee I 


CHORUS. 

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus t 3480 

Quern patronum rogaturus l 
Cum vixjustus sit securus. 


176 


FAUST. 


EVIL-SPIRIT. 

The glorified their faces turn 
Away from thee ! 

Shudder the pure to reach 
Their hands to thee ! 

Woe ! 

CHORUS. 

Quid mm miser tunc dicturus — 
MARGARET. 

Neighbor ! your smelling-bottle ! 


3485 


( She swoons away.) 


FAUST. 


177 


WALPURGIS-NIGHT. 

The Hartz Mountains. 

District of SchierJce and Elend. 
faust and mephistopheles. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A broomstick dost thou not at least desire? 

The roughest he-goat fain would I bestride, 

By this road from our goal we’re still far wide. 

FAUST. 

While fresh upon my legs, so long I naught require, 
Except this knotty staff. Beside, 

What boots it to abridge a pleasant way ? 

Along the labyrinth of these vales to creep, 

Then scale these rocks, whence, in eternal spray, 
Adown the cliffs the silvery fountains leap : 

Such is the joy that seasons paths like these ! 

Spring weaves already in the birchen trees ; 

E’en the late pine-grove feels her quickening powers; 
Should she not work within these limbs of ours ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Naught of this genial influence do I know ! 

Within me all is wintry. Frost and snow 
I should prefer my dismal path to bound. 

How sadly, yonder, with belated glow 
Rises the ruddy moon’s imperfect round, 

Shedding so faint a light at every tread 

8 * 


3490 


3495 


3500 


3505 


■178 


FAUST. 


One’s sure to stumble ’gainst a rock or tree ! 

An Ignis Fatuus I must call instead. 3510 

Yonder one burning merrily, I see. 

Holla ! my friend, may I request your light ? 

Why should you flare away so uselessly ? 

Be kind enough to show us up the height ! 

IGNIS FATUUS. 

Through reverence, I hope I may subdue 3515 

The lightness of my nature ; true, 

Our course is but a zigzag one. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ho ! ho ! 

So man, forsooth, he thinks to imitate ! 

Now, in the devil’s name, for once go straight, 

Or out at once your flickering life I’ 11 blow ! 3520 

IGNIS FATUUS. 

That you are master here is obvious quite ; 

To do your will I’ll cordially essay ; 

Only reflect 1 The hill is magic-mad to-night ; 

And if to show the path you choose a meteor’s light, 

You must not wonder should we go astray. 3525 

FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, IGNIS FATUUS 

(in alternate song). 

Through this dream and magic-sphere 
Lead us on, thou flickering guide. 

Pilot well our bold career ! 

That we may with onward stride 

Gain yon vast and desert waste 1 3530 

See how tree on tree with haste 
Bush amain, the granite blocks 


FAUST. 


Make obeisance as they go ! 

Hark ! the grim long-snouted rocks, 
How they snort, and how they blow ! 

Brook and brooklet hurrying flow 
Through the turf and stones along ; 

. Hark, the rustling ! Hark, the song ! 
Hearken to love’s plaintive lays ; 
Voices of those heavenly days — 

What we hope, and what we love ! 
Like the song of olden time, 

Echo’s voice repeats the chime. 

To-whit ! To-whoo ! It sounds more near 
Pewit, owl, and jay appear, 

All awake, around, above ! 

Paunchy salamanders too 
Crawl, long-limbed, the bushes through ! 
And, like snakes, the roots of trees 
Coil themselves from rock and sand, 
Stretching many a wondrous band, 

Us to frighten, us to seize ; 

From rude knots with life imbued, 
Polyp-fangs abroad they spread, 

To snare the wanderer ! ’Neath our tread, 
Mice, in myriads, thousand-hued, 

Through the heath and through the moss ! 
And the fire-flies’ glittering throng, 
Wildering escort, whirls along, 

Here and there, our path across. 

Tell me, stand we motionless, 

Or still forward do we press ? 

All things round us whirl and fly, 


i8o 


FAUST. 


Rocks and trees make strange grimaces, 

Dazzling meteors change their places, 3565 

How they puff and multiply ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Now grasp my doublet — we at last 
Have reached a central precipice, 

Whence we a wondering glance may cast, 

How Mammon lights the dark abyss. 3570 

FAUST. 

How through the chasms strangely gleams 
A lurid light, like dawn’s red glow, 

Pervading with its quivering beams 
The gorges of the gulf below ! 

There vapors rise, there clouds float by, 3575 

And here through mist the splendor shines ; 

Now, like a fount, it bursts on high, 

Now glideth on in slender lines ; 

Far-reaching, with a hundred veins, 

Through the far valley see it glide, 3580 

Here, where the gorge the flood restrains, 

At once it scatters far and wide ; 

Anear, like showers of golden sand 
Strewn broadcast, sputter sparks of light ; 

And mark yon rocky walls that stand 3585 

Ablaze, in all their towering height ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Sir Mammon, for this festival, 

Grandly illumes his palace hall ! 

To see it was a lucky chance ; 

E’en now the boist’rous guests advance. 


3590 


FAUST. 


1S1 


FAUST. 

How the fierce tempest sweeps around ! 

Upon my neck it strikes with sudden shock ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Cling to these ancient ribs of granite rock, 

Else it will hurl you down to yon abyss profound. 

A murky vapor thickens night. 3595 

Hark ! Through the woods the tempests roar ! 

The owlets flit in wild afright. 

Split are the columns that upbore 
The leafy palace, green for aye : 

The shivered branches whir and sigh, 3600 

Yawn the huge trunks with mighty groan, 

The roots, upriven, creak and moan ! 

In fearful and entangled fall, 

One crashing ruin whelms them all, 

While through the desolate abyss, 3605 

Sweeping the wreck-strown precipice, 

The raging storm-blasts howl and hiss ! 

Hear’st thou voices sounding clear, 

Distant now and now more near ? 

Hark ! the mountain ridge along 3610 

Streameth a raving magic-song 1 

witches (in chorus ). 

Now to the Brocken the witches hie, 

The stubble is yellow, the com is green ; 

Thither the gathering legions fly, 

And sitting aloft is Sir Urian seen : 3615 

O’er stick and o’er stone they go whirling along, 
Witches and he-goats, a motley throng. 

VOICES. 

Alone old Baubo’s coming now ; 

She rides upon a farrow sow. 


182 


FAUST. 


CHORUS. 

Honor to her, to whom honor is due ! 
Forward, Dame Baubo ! Honor to you ! 

A goodly sow and mother thereon, 

The whole witch chorus follows anon. 

VOICE. 

Which way didst come ? 

VOICE. 

O’er Ilsenstein ! 

There I peep’d in an owlet’s nest. 

With her broad eye she gazed in mine ! 

VOICE. 

Drive to the devil, thou hellish pest ! 

Why ride so hard? 

VOICE. 

She has graz’d my side, 
Look at the wounds, how deep and how wide ! 

witches (in chorus). 
The way is broad, the way is long ; 

What mad pursuit ! What tumult wild ! 
Scratches the besom and sticks the prong ; 
Crush’d is the mother, and stifled the child. 

wizards (half chorus). 
Like house-encumber’d snail we creep, 
While far ahead the women keep, 

For when to the devil’s house we speed, 

By a thousand steps they take the lead. 

THE OTHER HALF. 

Not so, precisely, do we view it ; — 

They with a thousand steps may do it ; 


3620 


3625 


3630 


3635 


FAUST. 

• / 

But let them hasten as they can, 

With one long bound ’tis clear’d by man. 

voices (above). 

Come with us, come with us from Felsensee. 

voices ( from below). 

Aloft to you we would mount with glee ! 

We wash, and free from all stain are we, 

Yet barren evermore must be ! 


BOTH CHORUSES. 

The wind is hushed, the stars grow pale, 
The pensive moon her light doth veil ; 
And whirling on, the magic choir 
Sputter forth sparks of drizzling fire. 


Stay ! stay ! 


voice (from below). 
voice (from above). 


What voice of woe 

Calls from the cavern’ d depths below? 

voice ( from below). 

Take me with you ! Oh take me too ! 

Three centuries I climb in vain, 

And yet can ne’er the summit gain ! 

To be with my kindred I am fain. 


BOTH CHORUSES. 

Broom and pitchfork, goat and prong, 
Mounted on these we whirl along ; 
Who vainly strives to climb to-night, 
Is evermore a luckless wight ! 


'183 

3640 


3645 


3650 


3655 


1 84 


FAUST. 


DEMI- WITCH {below). 

I hobble after, many a day ; 3660 

Already the others are far away ! 

No rest at home can I obtain — 

Here too my efforts are in vain ! 

CHORUS OF WITCHES. 

Salve gives the witches strength to rise ; 

A rag for a sail does well enough ; 3665 

A goodly ship is every trough ; 

To-night who flies not, never flies. 

BOTH CHORUSES. 

And when the topmost peak we round, 

Then alight ye on the ground ; 

The heath’s wide regions cover ye 3670 

With your mad swarms of witchery ! 

( They let themselves down . ) 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

They crowd and jostle, whirl and flutter ! 

They whisper, babble, twirl, and splutter ! 

They glimmer, sparkle, stink and flare — 

A true witch-element ! Beware ! 3675 

Stick close ! else we shall severed be. 

Where art thou ? 

faust {in the distance). 

Here ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Already, whirl’d so far away ! 

The master then indeed I needs must play. 

Give ground ! Squire Voland comes ! Sweet folk, give 
ground ! 


FAUST. 


185 

3680 


Here, doctor, grasp me ! With a single bound 
Let us escape this ceaseless jar ; 

Even for me too mad these people are. 

Hard by there shineth something with peculiar glare, 
Yon brake allureth me ; it is not far ; 

Come, come along with me ! we’ll slip in there. 

FAUST. 

Spirit of contradiction ! Lead ! I’ll follow straight ! 
’Twas wisely done, however, to repair 
On May-night to the Brocken, and when there, 

By our own choice ourselves to isolate ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Mark, of those flames the motley glare ! 

A merry club assembles there. 

In a small circle one is not alone. 

FAUST. 

I’d rather be above, though, I must own ! 

Already fire and eddying smoke I view ; 

The impetuous millions to the devil ride ; 

Full many a riddle will be there untied. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Ay ! and full many a one be tied anew. 

But let the great world rave and riot ! 

Here will we house ourselves in quiet. 

A custom ’tis of ancient date, 

Our lesser worlds within the great world to create ! 
Young witches there I see, naked and bare, 

And old ones, veil’d more prudently. 

For my sake only courteous be I 
The trouble’s small, the sport is rare. 


3685 


3690 


3695 


3700 


3 / Oo 


1 86 


FAUST. 


Of instruments I hear the cursed din — 

One must get used to it. Come in ! come in ! 

There’s now no help for it. I’ll step before, 

And introducing you as my good friend, 

Confer on you one obligation more. 3710 

How say you now ? ’Tis no such paltry room ; 

Why only look, you scarce can see the end. 

A hundred fires in rows disperse the gloom ; 

They dance, they talk, they cook, make love, and drink : 
Where could we find aught better, do you think? 3715 

FAUST. 

To introduce us, do you purpose here 
As devil or as wizard to appear ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Though I am wont indeed to strict incognito, 

Yet upon gala-days one must one’s orders show. 

No garter have I to distinguish me, 3720 

Nathless the cloven foot doth here give dignity. 

Seest thou yonder snail ? Crawling this way she hies ; 

With searching feelers, she, no doubt, 

Hath me already scented out ; 

Here, even if I would, for me there’s no disguise. 3725 
From fire to fire, we’ll saunter at our leisure, 

The gallant you, I’ll cater for your pleasure. 

(To a party seated round some expiring embers . ) 

Old gentlemen, apart, why sit ye moping here ? 

Ye in the midst should be of all this jovial cheer, 

Girt round with noise and youthful riot ; 3730 

At home one surely has enough of quiet. 

GENERAL,. 

In nations put his trust, who may, 

Whate’er for them one may have done ; 


FAUST. 


187 


The people are like women, they 

Honor your rising stars alone ! 3735 

MINISTER. 

Too far from truth and right they wander now ; 

I must extol the good old ways, 

For truly when all spoke our praise, 

Then was the golden age, I trow. 

PARVENU. 

Ne’er were we ’mong your dullards found, 3740 

And what we ought not, that we did of old ; 

Yet now are all things turning round, 

Just when we most desired them fast to hold. 

AUTHOR. 

Who, as a rule, a treatise now would care 

To read, of even moderate sense? 3745 

As for the rising generation, ne’er 

Has youth displayed such arrogant pretence. 

M EPH I STOPHELES. 

{suddenly appearing very old). 
Since for the last time I the Brocken scale, 

That folk are ripe for doomsday, now one sees ; 

And just because my cask begins to fail, 3750 

So the whole world is also on the lees. 

HUCKSTER- WITCH. 

Stop, gentlemen, nor pass me by, 

Of wares I have a choice collection : 

Pray honor them with your inspection. 

Lose not this opportunity ! 

No fellow to my booth you’ll find 


3755 


1 88 


FAUST. 


On earth, for ’mong my store there’s naught 
"Which to the world, and to mankind, 

Hath not some direful mischief wrought. 

No dagger here, which hath not flow’d with blood, 3760 
No bowl, which hath not poured into some healthy frame 
Hot poison’s life-consuming flood, 

No trinket, but hath wrought some woman’s shame. 

No weapon but hath cut some sacred tie, 

Or from behind hath stabb’d an enemy. 3765 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Gossip ! For wares like these the time’s gone by. 

What’s done is past I what’s past is done ! 

With novelties your booth supply ; 

Now novelties attract alone. 

FAUST. 

May this wild scene my senses spare ! 3770 

This may in truth be called a fair ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Upward the eddying concourse throng ; 

Thinking to push, thyself art push’d along. 

FAUST. 

Who’s that, pray? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Mark her well I That’s Lilith. 

FAUST. 

Who? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Adam’s first wife. Of her rich locks beware l 3775 

That charm in which she’s parallel’ d by few ; 

When in its toils a youth she doth ensnare, 

He will not soon escape, I promise you. 


FAUST. 


189 


FAUST. 

There sit a pair, the old one with the young ; 

Already they have bravely danced and sprung ! 3780 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Here {here is no repose to-day. 

Another dance begins ; we’ll join it, come away ! 

FAUST 

{dancing with the young one). 
Once a fair vision came to me ; 

Therein I saw an apple-tree, 

Two beauteous apples charmed mine eyes ; 3785 

I climb’d forthwith to reach the prize. 

THE FAIR ONE. 

Apples still fondly ye desire, 

From paradise it hath been so, 

Feelings of joy my breast inspire 

That such too in my garden grow. 3790 

mephistopheles {with the old one). 
Once a weird vision came to me ; 

Therein I saw a rifted tree. 

It had a ; 

But as it was it pleased me too. 

the old one. 

I beg most humbly to salute 3795 

The gallant with the cloven foot ! 

Let him a . . . have ready here, 

If he a . . . does not fear. 

PROCTOPHANTASMIST. 

Accursed mob ! How dare ye thus to meet ? 


FAUST. 


190 

Have I not shown and demonstrated too, 3800 

That ghosts stand not on ordinary feet? 

Yet here ye dance, as other mortals do ! 

the fair one (dancing). 

Then at our ball, what doth he here? 

faust (dancing). 

Oh ! He must everywhere appear. 

He must adjudge, when others dance ; 

If on each step his say’s not said, 

So is that step as good as never made. 

He’s most annoyed, so soon as we advance ; 

If ye would circle in one narrow round, 

As he in his old mill, then doubtless he 
Your dancing would approve, — especially 
If ye forthwith salute him with respect profound ! 

PROCTOPHANTASMIST. 

Still here ! what arrogance ! unheard of quite ! 

Vanish ; we now have fill’d the world with light ! 

Laws are unheeded by the devil’s host ; 3815 

Wise as we are, yet Tegel hath its ghost ! 

How long at this conceit I’ve swept with all my might, 

Lost is the labor : ’tis unheard of quite ! 

THE FAIR ONE. 

Cease here to tease us any more, I pray. 

PROCTOPHANTASMIST. 

Spirits, I plainly to your face declare : 3820 

No spiritual control myself will bear, 

Since my own spirit can exert no sway. 

(The dancing continues.) 


3805 


3810 


FAUST. 


191 


To night, I see, I shall in naught succeed ; 

But I’m prepar’d my travels to pursue, 

And hope, before my final step indeed, 3825 

To triumph over bards and devils too. 


MEPH I STOPHELES. 

Now in some puddle will he tahe his station, 

Such is his mode of seeking consolation ; 

Where leeches, feasting on his blood, will drain 
Spirit and spirits from his haunted brain. 3830 

(To Faust, who has left the dance.) 

But why the charming damsel leave, I pray, 

Who to you in the dance so sweetly sang ? 

FAUST. 

Ah ! in the very middle of her lay, 

Out of her mouth a small red mouse there sprang. 

mephistophel.es. 

Suppose there did ! One must not be too nice. 3835 

’Twas well it was not grey, let that suffice. 

Who ’mid his pleasures for a trifle cares? 


Then saw I — 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

What? 

FAUST. 

Mephisto, seest thou there 
Standing far off, a lone child, pale and fair? 

Slow from the spot her drooping form she tears, 3840 

And seems with shackled feet to move along ; 

I own, within me the delusion’s strong, 

That she the likeness of my Gretchen wears. 


192 


FAUST. 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Gaze not upon her ! ’Tis not good ! Forbear ! 
’Tis lifeless, magical, a shape of air, 

An idol. Such to meet with, bodes no good ; 
That rigid look of hers doth freeze man’s blood, 
And well-nigh petrifies his heart to stone : — 
The story of Medusa thou hast known. 

FAUST. 

Ay, verily ! a corpse’s eyes are those, 

Which there was no fond loving hand to close. 
That is the bosom I so fondly press’d, 

That my sweet Gretchen’s form, so oft caress’d ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Deluded fool ! ’Tis magic, I declare ! 

To each she doth his love’d one’s image wear. 

FAUST. 

What bliss ! what torture ! vainly I essay 
To turn me from that piteous look away. 

How strangely doth a single crimson line 
Around that lovely neck its coil entwine, 

It shows no broader than a knife’s blunt edge ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Quite right. I see it also, and allege 
That she beneath her arm her head can bear, 
Since Perseus cut it off. — But you I swear 
Are craving for illusion still ! 

Come then, ascend yon little hill ! 

As on the Prater all is gay, 

And if my senses are not gone, 

I see a theatre, — what’s going on? 


FAUST. 


193 


SERVIBILIS. 

They are about to recommence ; — the play 
Will be the last of seven, and spick-span new — 
’Tis usual here that number to present — 

A dilettante did the piece invent, 

And dilettanti will enact it too. 

Excuse me, gentlemen ; to me’s assign’d 
As dilettante to uplift the curtain. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

You on the Blocksberg I’m rejoiced to find, 

That ’tis your most appropriate sphere is certain. 


3870 


3875 


9 


194 


FAUST. 


WALPURGIS-NIGHT’S DREAM; 

OR, 

OBERON AND TETANIA'S 
GOLDEN WEDDING-FEAST. 

INTERMEZZO. 


Theatre. 

MANAGER. 

Vales, where mists still shift and play, 

To ancient hill succeeding, — 

These our scenes ; — so we, to-day, 3880 

May rest, brave sons of Mieding. 

HERALD. 

That the marriage golden be, 

Must fifty years be ended ; 

More dear this feast of gold to me, 

Contention now suspended. 3885 

OBERON. 

Spirits, are ye hovering near, 

Show yourselves around us ! 

King and queen behold ye here, 

Love hath newly bound us. 


FAUST. 


195 


PUCK. 

Puck draws near and wheels about, 3890 

In mazy circles dancing ! 

Hundreds swell his joyous shout, 

Behind him still advancing. 

ARIEL. 

Ariel wakes his dainty air, 

His lyre celestial stringing. — 3895 

Fools he lureth, and the fair, 

With his celestial singing. 

OBERON. 

Wedded ones, would ye agree, 

We court your imitation : 

Would ye fondly love as we. 3900 

We counsel separation. 

TITANIA. 

If husband scold and wife retort, 

Then bear them far asunder ; 

Her to the burning south transport, 

And him the North Pole under. 3905 

THE WHOLE ORCHESTRA ( fortissimo ). 

Flies and midges all unite 

With frog and chirping cricket, 

Our orchestra throughout the night, 

Resounding in the thicket ! 

{Solo.) 

Yonder doth the bagpipe come ! 3910 

Its sack an airy bubble. 

Schnick, schnick, schnack, with nasal hum, 

Its notes it doth redouble. 


196 


FAUST. 


EMBRYO SPIRIT. 

Spider’s foot and midge’s wing, 

A toad in form and feature ; 3915 

Together verses it can string, 

Though scarce a living creature. 

A LITTLE PAIR. 

Tiny step and lofty bound, 

Through dew and exhalation ; 

Ye trip it deftly on the ground, 3920 

But gain no elevation. 

INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER. 

Can I indeed believe my eyes? 

Is’t not mere masquerading? 

What ! Oberon in beauteous guise, 

Among the groups parading ! 3925 

ORTHODOX. 

No claws, no tail to whisk about, 

To fright us at our revel ; — 

Yet like the gods of Greece, no doubt, 

He too’s a genuine devil. 

NORTHERN ARTIST. 

These that I’m hitting off to-day 3930 

Are sketches unpretending ; 

Towards Italy without delay, 

My steps I think of bending. 

PURIST- 

Alas ! ill-fortune leads me here, 

Where riot still grows louder ; 3935 

And ’mong the witches gather’d here, 

But two alone wear powder ! 


FAUST. 


197 


YOUNG WITCH. 

Your powder and your petticoat, 

Suit hags, there’s no gainsaying ; 

Hence I sit fearless on my goat, 3940 

My naked charms displaying. 

MATRON. 

We’re too well-bred to squabble here, 

Or insult back to render ; 

But may you wither soon, my dear, 

Although so young and tender. 3945 

LEADER OF THE BAND. 

Nose of fly and gnat’s proboscis, 

Throng not the naked beauty 1 

Frogs and crickets in the mosses, 

Keep time and do your duty ! 

weathercock (towards one side). 

What charming company I view 3950 

Together here collected ! 

Gay bachelors, a hopeful crew, 

And brides so unaffected I 

weathercock ( towards the other side). 

Unless indeed the yawning ground 
Should open to receive them, 3955 

From this vile crew, with sudden bound, 

To Hell I’d jump and leave them. 

XENIEN. 

With small sharp shears, in insect guise, 

Behold us at your revel ! 

That we may tender, filial-wise, 3960 

Our homage to the devil. 


FAUST. 

HENNINGS. 

Look now at yonder eager crew, 

How naively they’re jesting ! 

That they have tender hearts and true, 
They stoutly keep protesting ! 

MUSAGET. 

Oneself amid this witchery 
How pleasantly one loses ; 

For witches easier are to me 
To govern than the Muses ! 

CI-DEVANT GENIUS OP THE AGE. 

With proper folks when we appear, 

No one can then surpass us ! 

Keep close, wide is the Blocksborg here 
As Germany’s Parnassus. 

INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER. 

How name ye that stiff formal man, 
Who strides with lofty paces ? 

He tracks the game where’er he can, 
“He scents the Jesuits’ traces.” 

CRANE. 

W T here waters troubled are or clear, 

To fish I am delighted ; 

Thus pious gentlemen appear 
With devils here united. 

WORLDLING. 

By pious people, it is true, 

No medium is rejected ; 

Conventicles, and not a few, 

On Blocksborg are erected. 


3965 


3970 


3975 


3980 


3985 


FAUST. 


199 


DANCER. 

Another choir is drawing nigh, 

Far off the drums are beating. 

Be still ! 7 tis but the bittern’s cry, 

Its changeless note repeating. 

DANCING MASTER. 

Each twirls about and never stops, 
And as he can advances. 

The crooked leaps, the clumsy hops, 
Nor careth how he dances. 

FIDDLER. 

To take each other’s life, I trow, 
Would cordially delight them ! 

As Orpheus’ lyre the beasts, so now 
The bagpipe doth unite them. 

DOGMATIST. 

My views, in spite of doubt and sneer, 
I hold with stout persistence, 

Inferring from the devils here, 

The evil one’s existence. 

IDEALIST. 

My every sense rules Phantasy 
With sway quite too potential ; 

Sure I’m demented if the I 
Alone is the essential. 

REALIST. 

This entity’s a dreadful bore, 

And cannot choose but vex me ; 

The ground beneath me ne’er before 
Thus totter’d to perplex me. 


3990 


3995 


4000 


4005 


200 


FAUST. 


SUPERNATURALIST. 

Well pleased assembled here I view 4010 

Of spirits this profusion ; 

From devils, touching angels too, 

I gather some conclusion. 

SCEPTIC. 

The ignis fatuus they track out, 

And think they’re near the treasure. 4015 

Devil alliterates with doubt, 

Here I abide with pleasure. 

LEADER OF THE BAND. 

Frog and cricket in the mosses, — 

Confound your gasconading ! 

Nose of fly and gnat’s proboscis ; — 4020 

Most tuneful serenading ! 

THE KNOWING ONES. 

Sans souci, so this host we greet, 

Their jovial humor showing ; 

There’s now no walking on our feet, 

So on our heads we’re going. 4025 

THE AWKWARD ONES. 

In seasons past we snatch’d, ’ tis true, 

Some tit-bits by our cunning ; 

Our shoes, alas, are now danced through, 

On our bare soles we’re running. 

WILL-O’ -THE-WISPS. 

From marshy bogs we sprang to light, 4030 

Yet here behold us dancing ; 

The gayest gallants of the night, 

In glitt’ring rows advancing. 


FAUST. 


201 


SHOOTING STAR. 

With rapid motion from on high, 

I shot in starry splendor ; 4035 

Now prostrate on the grass I lie ; — 

Who aid will kindly render ? 

THE MASSIVE ONES. 

Room ! wheel round ! They’re coming ! lo ! 

Down sink the bending grasses. 

Though spirits, yet their limbs, we know, 4040 
Are huge substantial masses. 

PUCK. 

Don’t stamp so heavily, I pray ; 

Like elephants you’ re treading ! 

And ’mong the elves be Puck to-day, 

The stoutest at the wedding ! 4045 

ARIEL. 

If nature boon, or subtle sprite, 

Endow your soul with pinions ; — 

Then follow to yon rosy height, 

Through ether’s calm dominions ! 

orchestra ( pianissimo ). 

Drifting cloud and misty wreathes 4050 

Are fill’d with light elysian; 

O’er reed and leaf the zephyr breathes — 

So fades the fairy vision ! 

A gloomy Day. A Plain. 

Faust and Mephistopheles. 

FAUST. 

In misery ! despairing ! long wandering pitifully on the 
face of the earth and now imprisoned ! This gentle hapless 

9 * 


202 


FAUST. 


creature, immured in the dungeon as a malefactor and re- 
served for horrid tortures ! That it should come to this I 
To this ! — Perfidious, worthless spirit, and this thou hast 
concealed from me ! — Stand ! ay, stand ! roll in malicious 
rage thy fiendish eyes ! Stand and brave me with thine in- 
supportable presence ! Imprisoned ! In hopeless misery ! 
Delivered over to the power of evil spirits and the judgment 
of unpitying humanity ! — And me, the while, thou wert lull- 
ing with tasteless dissipations, concealing from me her grow- 
ing anguish, and leaving her to perish without help ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

She is not the first. 

FAUST. 

Hound ! Execrable monster ! — Back with him, oh thou 
infinite spirit ! back with the reptile into his dog’s shape, 
in which it was his wont to scamper before me at eventide, 
to roll before the feet of the harmless wanderer, and to 
fasten on his shoulders when he fell ! Change him again 
into his favorite shape, that he may crouch on his belly 
before me in the dust, whilst I spurn him with my foot, 
the reprobate ! — Not the first ! — Woe ! Woe ! By no human 
soul is it conceivable, that more than one human creature 
has ever sunk into a depth of wretchedness like this, or that 
the first in her writhing death-agony, should not have 
atoned in the sight of all-pardoning Heaven, for the guilt 
of all the rest ! The misery of this one pierces me to the 
very marrow, and harrows up my soul ; thou art grinning 
calmly over the doom of thousands ! 4082 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Now we are once again at our wit’s end, just where the 
reason of you mortals snaps ! Why dost thou seek our fel- 
lowship, if thou canst not go through with it? Wilt fly, and 


FAUST. 


203 


art not proof against dizziness? Did we force ourselves on 
thee, or thou on us ? 4087 

FAUST. 

Cease thus to gnash thy ravenous fangs at me ! I loathe 
thee ! — Great and glorious spirit, thou who didst vouchsafe 
to reveal thyself unto me, thou who dost know my very 
heart and soul, why hast thou linked me with this base 
associate, who feeds on mischief and revels in destruction ! 

4093 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Hast done ? 

FAUST. 

Save her ! — or woe to thee ! The direst of curses on thee 
for thousands of years ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I cannot loose the bands of the avenger, nor withdraw his 
bolts. — Save her ! — Who was it plunged her into perdition ? 
I or thou ? 4099 

faust (looks wildly around). 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

Would’st grasp the thunder? Well for you, poor mortals, 
that ’tis not yours to wield ! To smite to atoms the being, 
however innocent, who obstructs his path, such is the 
tyrant’s fashion of relieving himself in difficulties ! 

FAUST. 

Convey me thither ! She shall be free ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

And the danger to which thou dost expose thyself? 
Know, the guilt of blood, shed by thy hand, lies yet upon 
the town. Over the place where fell the murdered one, 
avenging spirits hover and watch for the returning murderer. 

4109 


204 


FAUST. 


FAUST. 

This too from thee ? The death and downfall of a world 
he on thee, monster ! Conduct me thither, I say, and set her 
free ! 4112 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I will conduct thee. And what I can do, — hear ! Have 
I all power in heaven and upon earth ? I’ll cloud the senses 
of the warder, — do thou possess thyself of the keys and lead 
her forth with human hand ! I will keep watch ! The 
magic steeds are waiting, I bear thee off. Thus much is in 
my power. 4118 

FAUST. 

Up and away ! 

Night. Open country. 

Faust, Mepiiistopheles. 

( Rushing along on black horses.) 

FAUST. 

What weave they yonder round the Eavenstone ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

I know not what they shape and brew. 


4120 


FAUST. 

They’re soaring, swooping, bending, stooping. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

A witches’ pack. 

FAUST. 

They charm, they strew. 

MEPHISTOPHELES. 

On! On! 

Dungeon. 

FAUST 

(with a bunch of keys and a lamp before a small iron door). 

A fear unwonted o’er my spirit falls ; 4125 


FAUST. 


205 


Man’s concentrated woe o’erwhelins me here! 

She dwells immur’d within these dripping walls ; 

Her only trespass a delusion dear ! 

Thou lingerest at the fatal door ? 

Thou dread’ st to see her face once more ? 4130 

On ! While thou dalliest, draws her death-hour near. 

{He seizes the lock. Singing within . ) 

My mother the harlot, 

She took me and slew ! 

My father, the scoundrel, 

Hath eaten me too ! 4135 

My sweet little sister 
Hath all my bones laid, 

Where soft breezes whisper 
All in the cool shade ! 

Then became I a wood-bird, and sang on the spray, 
Fly away ! little bird, fly away ! fly away ! 4141 

faust ( opening the lock). 

Ah ! she forebodes not that her lover’s near, 

The clanking chains, the rustling straw, to hear. 

{He enters.) 

MARGARET 

{hiding her face in the bed of straw). 
Woe ! woe ! they come ! oh bitter ’tis to die ! 

FAUST {softly). 

Hush ! hush ! be still ! I come to set thee free ! 4145 

Margaret {throwing herself at his feet). 
If thou art human, feel my misery ! 

FAUST. 

Thou wilt awake the jailor with thy cry ! 

{He grasps the chains to unlock them . ) 


206 


FAUST. 


Margaret ( on her knees ) . 

Who, headsman, unto thee this power 
O’er me could give? 

Thou com’st for me at midnight-hour. 4150 

Be merciful and let me live ! 

Is morrow’s dawn not time enough ? 

(She stands up.) 

I’m still so young, so young — 

And must so early die ! 

Fair was I too, and that was my undoing. 4155 

My love is now afar, he then was nigh ; 

Torn lies the garland, the fair blossoms strew’d. 

Nay, seize me not with hand so rude ! 

Spare me ! What harm have I e’er done to thee ? 

Oh let me not in vain implore ! 4160 

I ne’er have seen thee in my life before ! 

FAUST. 

Can I endure this bitter agony ? 

MARGARET. 

I now am at thy mercy quite. 

Let me my babe but suckle once again ! 

I fondled it the livelong night ; 4165 

They took it from me but to give me pain, 

And now, they say that I my child have slain. 

Gladness I ne’er again shall know. 

Then they sing songs about me, — ’tis wicked of the throng — 
An ancient ballad endeth so ; 4170 

Who bade them thus apply the song ? 

FAUST 

( throwing himself on the ground). 

A lover at thy feet bends low, 

To loose the bonds of wretchedness and woe. 


FAUST. 


207 


MARGARET 

(throws herself beside him). 

Oh, let us kneel and move the saints by prayer ! 

Look ! look ! yon stairs below, 4175 

Under the threshold there, 

Hell’s flames are all aglow ! 

Beneath the floor, 

With hideous noise, 

The devils roar ! 4180 

FAUST (aloud). 

Gretchen ! Gretchen ! 

Margaret ( listening ). 

That was my loved one’s voice ! 

(She springs up , the chains fall off.) 
Where is he ? I heard him calling me. 

Free am I ! There’s none shall hinder me. 

To his neck will I fly, 4185 

On his bosom will lie ! 

Gretchen, he called ! — On yon threshold he stood ; 

Amidst all the howling of hell’s fiery flood, 

The scoff and the scorn of its devilish crew, 

The tones of his voice, sweet and loving, I knew. 4190 

FAUST. 

’Tis I ! 

MARGARET. 

’Tis thou 1 O say so once again ! 

(Embracing him. ) 

’Tis he ! ’Tis he ! where’s now the torturing pain? 

Where are the fetters? where the dungeon’s gloom? 

’Tis thou ! To save me thou art come ! 

And I am sav’d ! 4195 

Already now the street I see 

Where the first time I caught a glimpse of thee. 


208 


FAUST. 


There too the pleasant garden shade, 

Where I and Martha for thy coming stay’d. 


Come ! come away ! 


FAUST 

{endeavoring to lead her away). 


MARGARET. 

Oh do not haste ! 4200 

I love to linger where thou stayest. ( Caressing him.) 


FAUST. 

Ah haste ! For if thou still delayest, 

Our lingering we shall both deplore. 

MARGARET. 

How, dearest ? canst thou kiss no more ! 

So short a time away from me, and yet, 4205 

To kiss thou couldst so soon forget ! 

Why on thy neck so anxious do I feel — 

When formerly a perfect heaven of bliss 

From thy dear looks and words would o’er me steal ? 

As thou wouldst stifle me thou then didst kiss ! — 4210 

Kiss me ! 

Or I’ll kiss thee ! ( She embraces him.) 

Woe ! woe ! Thy lips are cold, — 

Are dumb ! 

Thy love where hast thou left ? 4215 

Who hath me of thy love bereft ? {She turns away from him. ) 
FAUST. 

Come ! Follow me, my dearest love, be bold ! 

I’ll cherish thee with ardor thousand-fold; 

I but entreat thee^iow to follow me ! 


MARGARET 

{turning towards him). 

And art thou he ? and art thou really he ? 4220 


FAUST. 


209 


FAUST. 

’Tis I ! Oh come ! 

MARAGRET. 

Thou will strike off my' chain, 

And thou wilt take me to thine arms again. 

How comes it that thou dost not shrink from me ? — 

And dost thou know, love, whom thou wouldst set free ? 

FAUST. 

Come ! come ! already night begins to wane. 4225 

MARGARET. 

I sent my mother to her grave, 

I drown’d my child beneath the wave. 

Was it not given to thee and me — thee too ? 

’Tis thou thyself ! I scarce believe it yet. 

Give me thy hand ! It is no dream ! ’Tis true ! 4230 

Thine own dear hand ! — But how is this ? ’Tis wet ! 

Quick, wipe it off ! Meseems that yet 
There’s blood thereon. 

Ah God ! what hast thou done ? 

Put up thy sword, 4235 

I beg of thee ! 

FAUST. 

Oh, dearest, let the past forgotten be ! 

Death is in every word. 

MARGARET. 

No, thou must linger here in sorrow I 

The graves I will describe to thee, 4240 

And thou to them must see 

To-morrow : 

The best place give to my mother, 

Close at her side my brother, 


210 


FAUST. 


Me at some distance lay — 

But not too far away ! 

And the little one place on my right breast. 

Nobody else will near me lie ! 

To nestle beside thee so lovingly, 

That was a rapture, gracious and sweet ! 

A rapture I never again shall prove ; 

Methinks I would force myself on thee, love, 

And thou dost spurn me, and back retreat — 

Yet ’tis thyself, thy fond kind looks I see. 

FAUST. 

If thou dost feel ’tis I, then come with me ! 4255 

MARGARET. 

What, there? without? 

FAUST. 

Yes, forth in the free air. 

MARGARET. 

Ay, if the grave’s without, — If death lurk there ! 

Hence to the everlasting resting-place, 

And not one step beyond ! — Thou’rt leaving me ? 

Oh Henry ! would that I could go with thee ! 4260 

FAUST. 

Thou canst ! But will it ! Open stands the door. 

MARGARET. 

I dare not go ! I’ve naught to hope for more. 

What boots it to escape ? They lurk for me ! 

’Tis wretched to beg, as I must do, 

And with an evil conscience thereto ! 

’Tis wretched, in foreign lands to stray ; 

And me they will catch, do what I may ! 


4245 


4250 


4265 


FAUST. 


211 


FAUST. 

With thee will I abide. 

MARGARET. 

Quick ! Quick ! 

Save thy poor child ! 4270 

Keep to the path 
The brook along, 

Over the oridge 
To the wood beyond, 

To the left where the plank is, 4275 

In the pond. 

Seize it at once ! 

It fain would rise, 

It struggles still ! 

Save it. Oh save ! 4280 

FAUST. 

Dear Gretchen, more collected be ! 

One little step, and thou art free ! 

MARGARET. 

Were we but only past the hill ! 

There sits my mother upon a stone — 

My brain, alas, is cold with dread ! — 4285 

There sits my mother upon a stone, 

And to and fro she shakes her head ; 

She winks not, she nods not, her head it droops sore ; 

She slept so long, she waked no more ; 

She slept, that we might taste of bliss ; 4290 

Ah ! those were happy times, I wis ! 

FAUST. 

Since here avails nor argument nor prayer, 

Thee hence by force I needs must bear. 


212 


FAUST. 


MARGARET. 

Loose me ! I will not suffer violence ! 

With murderous hand hold not so fast ! 4295 

I have done all to please thee in the past ! 

FAUST. 

Day dawns ! My love ! My love ! 

MARGARET. 

Yes ! day draws near. 
The day of judgment too will soon appear ! 

It should have been my bridal ! No one tell, 

That thy poor Gretchen thou hast known too well. 4300 
Woe to my garland ! 

Its bloom is o’er ! 

Though not at the dance— 

We shall meet once more. 

The crowd doth gather, in silence it rolls ; 4305 

The squares, the streets, 

Scarce hold the throng. 

The staff is broken,— the death-bell tolls, — 

They bind and seize me ! I’m hurried along, 

To the seat of blood already I’m bound ! 4310 

Quivers each neck as the naked steel 
Quivers on mine the blow fo deal — 

The silence of the grave now broods around ! 

FAUST. 

Would I had ne’er been born ! 

mephistopheles ( appears without). 

Up! or you’re lost. 4315 

Vain hesitation ! Babbling, quaking ! 

My steeds are shivering, 

Morn is breaking. 


FAUST. 


213 


MARGARET. 

What from the floor ascendeth like a ghost ? 

’Tis he ! ’Tis he ! Him from my presence chase ! 4320 

What would he in this holy place ? 

It is for me he cometh ! 

FAUST. 

Thou shalt live ! 

MARGARET. 

Judgment of God ! To thee my soul I give ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES ( to FAUST). 

Come ! come ! I’ll leave thee else to share her doom ! 


MARGARET. 

Father, I’m thine ! Save me ! To thee I come ! 
Ye angels ! Ye angelic hosts ! descend, 

Encamp around to guard me and defend ! 

Henry ! I shudder now to look on thee ! 


MEPHISTOPHELES. 


She now is judged ! 


voices from above). 


Is saved ! 


4325 


MEPHISTOPHELES ( to FAUST). 

Come thou with me ! 

( Vanishes with Faust). 

voice ( from within, dying away). 

4330 


Henry ! Henry ! 








































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The Hamilton, Locke tP Clark 

SERIES OF 

Interlinear Translations 

Have long been the Standard and are now the Best 
Translated and Most Complete Series of Interlinears 
published. 

i2mo., well bound in Half Leather. 

Price reduced to $1.50 each. Postpaid to any address. 

Latin Interlinear Translations : 

VIRGIL — By Hart and Osborne. 

CAESAR — By Hamilton and Clark. 

HORACE — By Stirling, Nuttall and Clark. 
CICERO — By Hamilton and Clark. 
SALLUST — By Hamilton and Clark. 

OVID— By George W. Heilig. 

JUVENAL — By Hamilton and Clark. 

LIVY — By Hamilton and Clark, 

Greek Interlinear Translations : 
HOMER’S ILIAD — By Thomas Clark. 
XENOPHON’S ANABASIS— By Hamilton and Clark. 
GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN— By George W. Heilig. 


S. Austin Allibone, the distinguished author, writes : 

“ There is a growing disapprobation, both in Great Britain and America, 
of the disproportionate length of time devoted by the youthful student to 
the acquisition of the dead languages : and therefore nothing will tend so 
effectually to the preservation of the Greek and Latin grammars as their 
judicious union (the fruit of an intelligent compromise) with the Interlinear 
Glassies." 

DAVID McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia. 

Formerly published by Charles De Silver & Sons. 

























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